What's behind last week's decision by the Business Roundtable, composed of CEOs of America's 200 largest companies, to cross President Clinton and endorse the rival health reform plan of Tennessee Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper? In many ways, less than meets the eye.
Most big-business groups oppose major parts of Clinton's plan. But groups like the Roundtable also see the alternatives as mere starting points. "We have yet to see a bill that strikes anything like a proper balance" in terms of who pays, says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Robert Patricelli. Even Roundtable members rap Cooper's plan for limiting employers' deductibility of insurance costs and for not requiring individuals to buy insurance. Most groups are split from within. Last week, despite leaning toward endorsing key Clinton proposals, the chamber, after an internal fight, said it wouldn't support the plan.
Meanwhile, the Clinton effort to woo the Roundtable has some key cabinet and congressional Democrats grumbling. Clinton has already indicated he'll yield on tough insurance price controls and mandatory health alliances, raising questions about why he would let business appear to beat him into compromise. And some Capitol Hill Democrats fear a replay of last year's Btu tax fight during the budget battle. They don't want to support parts of Clinton's plan now, only to find the White House backing away later.
