Yes, around the state consumer groups are supporting competition. But key Republican lawmakers are not!

Now comes the latest in these battles, with Blue Cross asking for power to crush competitors with its bills that would force all insurers to raise their rates and take on all customers -- even though Blue Cross is given special tax exemption to do just that. In other words, Blue Cross stays tax exempt but doesn't have to do its "social mission," while other insurers will have to pay taxes and take on the social mission. Here is a Detroit News story on this: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/BIZ/811100354/1001

This will destroy competition in our state for health insurance -- and Blue Cross knows it. So does Mike Cox, who is fighting hard to stop the Blues from killing competition and raising rates of all. So do newspapers around the state who are editorializing for these bills to stay out of lame duck.

Now, here is the question: Will Republicans stand up, with consumers, to support competition? Or will they join the Democrats in crushing competition and handing out yet another government-created monopoly to a special interest?

What would John Engler do? That answer is easy. What will the Republicans who say they are eager to re-brand themselves as supporters of business, competition and free enterprise do? Support one big company -- or all companies?

The answer will tell us a lot about how we can expect Republicans to fare in the 2010 elections in Michigan. What will be the Michigan Republican Brand? Will it be for free markets and competition? Or will it be for special interests and PAC dollars?