Every so often, someone in Congress decides to go after that tempting but misguided political target: the repeal of the insurance industry's limited anti-trust exemption. People are generally suspicious when they hear the term "anti-trust exemption," especially because repeal advocates often forget to include the word "limited" when talking about McCarran-Ferguson. This allows politicians to paint themselves as fighting a noble battle against the mythical monolithic giant that is the insurance industry

kage, the latest debate over McCarran-Ferguson would strip the health and medical professional liability insurance markets of their limited exemptions. The measure was proposed as a possible amendment to the Senate healthcare package, but was never taken up. Healthcare reform in general ran into a roadblock with the election of Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to the Senate, and leaders in both chambers of Congress have begun seeking new ways to move their healthcare reform proposals.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has said the repeal could be introduced as a separate piece of legislation, and some in the House leadership even believe the repeal should be expanded to include property-casualty insurance.