Feinstein Bill Would Kill Healthcare Hikes

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has introduced a bill that is guaranteed to alienate health insurance companies. The proposal would give federal and state government officials the authority to prevent health insurers from raising their premiums, The Hill reports.

Her plan would represent a change to last year’s healthcare law. Federal officials currently can’t block rate increases, and while state officials can do so after a review, Feinstein’s bill would give them more discretion.

The issue of letting the government reject rate hikes generated heated debate during the negotiations among Democrats to create Obamacare. President Barack Obama originally sought such a provision, and Feinstein proposed the idea last year with initial support from many Democrats.