The Lady Doth Protesteth Too Much

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has proposed amending the Senate's health insurance reform bill to specifically include health insurance companies under antitrust laws.

The 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act exempted insurers from federal antitrust laws, which left it up to the states to regulate the industry.

There's a similar provision in the House bill, even though Karen Ignagni, President and CEO "America’s Health Insurance Plans" wrote to Rep. John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee to say that the states currently regulate insurance companies in every area, and that courts have found they are forbidden from conducting the anti-competitive activity targeted by both proposals.

Unfortunately for Ms. Ignagni, the AGs of ten states disagree.