60 Billion dollars pans out to under 200 bucks per person in the US-that's not enough to be called health care reform.  Also, when a group of politicians gives a number it's usually exaggerated and hiding other associated costs, so the 60 billion figure is largely speculative. You're right, though that the democrats wouldn't do anything against the interests of the national trial lawyers' associations. No, the republicans have not come up with an substantive ideas to lower health care costs, while democrats have just pushed the burden to the middle class while not lowering overall costs. No one can really attack the problem because there's just too much economic activity surrounding healthcare and no politicians these days will violate the interests of any major industry.