A bill to give power back to the state to disallow rate increases for individual health coverage has taken a critical step closer to passing the state Legislature, overriding opposition from Washington's largest insurance providers.

The bill passed the House 68-21 on Friday and is now expected to reach Gov. Christine Gregoire to be signed into law.

Under Senate Bill 5261, proposed rate changes for individual plans will again require approval by the state insurance commissioner, as is the case for small-group plans. Washington gave up oversight over individual rates in 2000 to lure back insurers who had pulled out of the individual market.

It sounds like Washington had the right idea back in 2000. Giving politicians the authority to block rate increases means that this issue will become a political football, with the advantage going to whatever politician panders to the anti-insurance sentiment more. It may be good politics, but it's bad public policy.