I’m no expert on health insurance, but I do know how to count.
My committee held its first briefing today. The subject was Insurance 101.
The Insurance Commissioner, a gubernatorial appointee, was asked whether we could pass a law that would impose certain requirements, with the intent of increasing the number of Marylanders with insurance.
“With 71 votes you can,” he responded with a smile.
That’s the number of votes needed to pass a bill in the House of Delegates.
“But will we need 85?” I whispered to a colleague.
That’s the number of votes needed to override a Governor’s veto.
Our recent history says there won’t be a veto.
Last year we passed a bill to establish a reinsurance program to reduce the cost of premiums.
It was complicated but by the end, uncontroversial.
It passed the House unanimously, 135-0, and the Senate, 43-4.
(The bill has resulted in an average reduction of premiums by 13.2%.)
That bipartisan support did not exist on the seventh day of last year’s session.
That’s why we meet for 90 days.
