As noted on the front page of The New York Times earlier this week, a new report from the Census Bureau noted that the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 833,000 in 1998 to reach 44.3 million. That's up by a reported 4.5 million since President Clinton took office in 1993.

Given the rather good economic times we are currently experiencing, some are perplexed by this trend. Well, don't be. An increasing number of uninsured is quite predictable when government-at both the federal and state levels-insist upon increasing regulations and mandates.

Since the failure of Clinton's big-government health care scheme in 1994, the White House, Congress and various states have elected to increase government involvement in and micromanagement of health care on a step-by-step basis. This results in higher costs and an increased number of uninsured.

As Congress debates health care reform again this week, it is time to put aside all measures that would increase regulations or load more mandates on the backs of U.S. businesses and entrepreneurs. Instead, if our elected officials are truly concerned about the uninsured, steps need to be taken to make insurance and health care more affordable, such as lifting all restrictions on tax-free medical savings accounts; making health care premiums immediately 100% tax deductible for individuals and the self-employed; and pushing ahead with deregulation.