If anyone were interested in discussing the really important issues this election campaign, much of the debate would focus on Sen. Jim Talent's efforts to help the uninsured.

Instead, when another increase in the uninsured, to 45 million, was reported recently, there was much dithering and decrying, but little discussion of how best to ameliorate the problem. The only apparent consensus is that government should “do something.”

In fact, government could “do something” at virtually no cost to the taxpayer. All that is needed is for Senate obstructionists to stop stonewalling the quest for the legislation being pushed by Talent and other supporters to create Association Health Plans.

Chances are, however, not many Americans are even aware of the Missouri Republican's crusade not only in the Senate, but also during his years in the House. The bill, incidentally, has been approved numerous times by the House with strong bipartisan support, but died in the Senate.

The bill would allow small businesses to join forces nationally through their trade associations to purchase health-care insurance. By coming together as major purchasers, small-company groups could achieve enough buying clout to give them access to the same quality health-care coverage at rates similar to those paid by America's largest corporations.

The potential as a solution is substantial, Talent has pointed out, because two-thirds of those without coverage are either small-business workers, owners, or their dependents. Research shows, Talent says, that Association Health Plans could help 8.5 million get coverage.

There are other proposals before the Senate aimed at dealing with the uninsured problem, Talent acknowledges, but they would come at a cost to the taxpayer. The association health plan approach, he says, would be more efficient and cost government nothing.

With so many worthies in influential positions so concerned about the uninsured's plight, why isn't Talent's proposal getting more serious discussion in high places?

The sad answer is that there are some who hypocritically decry the uninsured problem while hoping to use it as a justification for greater government involvement in the health-care market. They hope making Americans more dependent on government in every way will translate into greater political power, and they're right. This is why they fought so hard against the concept of medical savings accounts and, later, health savings accounts.

Proposals that give Americans more control over their lives are anathema to these Big Government disciples. The problem is especially noteworthy in the Senate, which once was known as the world's greatest deliberative body.

Now it's a graveyard for a dozen or so major legislative proposals dealing with issues ranging from health care to tort reform to taxes. Many of these stalled initiatives already have passed the House with large bipartisan majorities.

The unwillingness of major candidates to challenge the do-nothing Senate to answer for its disregard of the voters' interests is making a joke of this election campaign.

Jerry Heaster's column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Write to him c/o The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108; send e-mail to jheaster@kcstar.com; or call (816) 234-4297. For archived Jerry Heaster columns, go to KansasCity.com and click Business.