Paying for The Clinton Plan

OHIO CONGRESSMAN JOHN KAsich was just musing when he told friends that he and some other Republicans should invite Hillary Rodham Clinton to dinner to talk about health care. To his surprise, Hillary heard about the idea and phoned to accept. Over grilled salmon at Kasich's home last week, Mrs. Clinton and 11 Republicans talked for 2 1/2 hours about the chances for bipartisan cooperation. Result: some differences over specifics, but joint recognition that the public is demanding action.

In other ways too the Administration has sought to keep up momentum. Earlier this month health-care adviser Ira Magaziner gave an update to hundreds of members of the working groups that had studied what to propose. Onstage alone for 10 hours in the Old Executive Office Building, Magaziner stressed again that the Administration intends to give states maximum flexibility in delivering a basic benefits package. To the many in his audience who favor a "single-payer" system (government acts as sole insurer and pays all bills), Magaziner advised, "If you think single payer is best, then argue for that in your state."

The plan nonetheless appears to be a long way from finished. Some things have been decided: there will be a cigarette tax to finance the plan, most likely $1 a pack, and some kind of employer contribution that will look like a tax. Maybe a tax on doctors and hospitals too.

Hillary's Republican dinner companions made it plain that they want to help pass some kind of reform before facing the voters in 1994. Lawrence O'Donnell, staff director of the Senate Finance Committee, thinks that group may approve the taxes needed to pay for reform this year. But Kasich warned Mrs. Clinton that the Administration must do something first: set a firm date for unveiling a plan -- and this time stick to it.