For individual mandate before they were against it

NPR story on the 'striking similarities' between the Republican alternatives to the Clinton plan and what has passed in the House and Senate this Congress....with a focus on the individual mandate. An idea initially suggested by Republicans and economist Mark Pauly to counter the concept of an employer mandate, and to try and maximize market principles in shopping for indivdiual health insurance. Here is the audio about 5 minutes long.

The story notes that Republicans such as Orrin Hatch being against an individual mandate as an assault on freedom while supporting one in the past is 'ironic.' I like understatement.