Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) is the latest Republican to sign on as a co-sponsor to legislation (S 334) from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that would detach health insurance from employment and guarantee universal health insurance, CQ HealthBeat reports (CQ HealthBeat, 8/14). Under the legislation, private health insurers would provide coverage to individuals directly, rather than through employers, and employers initially would shift funds currently used to pay for coverage to employee wages. Over time, employers would have to pay the federal government a health insurance contribution (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/3).

In a statement on Monday, Gregg said that Wyden's measure "is by no means a perfect plan, but it is a good starting place for a bipartisan dialogue on health care reform." He added that he is concerned about some aspects of the plan, "including the imposition of mandates; its impact on current market competition; and its impact on domestic businesses and our global environment."

CQ HealthBeat notes that separately, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and other Senate Republicans have sponsored a bill (S 1886) that would provide tax credits of $2,160 per individual or $5,400 per family to help cover health insurance costs. Burr in a statement said of his proposal, "The plan is budget neutral and puts an end to unfair discrimination in the [Internal Revenue Service] tax code that only benefits health coverage offered by employers and that disproportionately subsidizes Americans with more costly health plans and with higher incomes" (CQ HealthBeat, 8/14).