Lessons learned for Hill

• Published May 15, 2008

Health Care Authority Director Steve Hill offered a simple review of the last legislative session at a Washington Policy Center forum this week, referring both to his department's new program to moderate health plans for small businesses, and the loss of funding for its new computer:

The video at TVW catches the action, including friendly but vigorous butting of heads between Reps. Eileen Cody and Bill Hinkle, the Democratic chairwoman and the lead Republican on the House health care committee.

Sen. Linda Evans Parlette was there and suggested it was Speaker of the House Frank Chopp who prevented a House vote on her (unanimously approved in the Senate) version of the Blue Ribbon health care bill two years ago. The Democrats voted on a version that stripped out the Republican’s favorite parts, like less mandates on insurance.

Cody refuted the supposition, saying, "It has to be 50 percent of the Democratic caucus. I think it was that way in the Republican side, I remember being in a deep minority. … There isn’t 50 percent support in the Democratic caucus and that’s why it didn’t move."