The House legislation includes critical reforms to the insurance industry, so that Americans will no longer have to worry that they will be denied coverage, or that their coverage will be dropped or watered down when they need it most. I’m also pleased that the bill includes a public option offered in an exchange. As I’ve said throughout this process, a public option that competes with private insurers is the best way to ensure choice and competition that are so badly needed in today’s market. And the House bill clearly meets two of the fundamental criteria I have set out: it is fully paid for and will reduce the deficit in the long term.
Does this mean Obama's finally willing to get his hands dirty here? You tell me. I'm sick of reading tea leaves.
"Nancy Pelosi has delivered a House bill with a real, live public plan in it, albeit not the one preferred by progressives. Harry Reid has announced his intention to put one in the Senate bill," writes Greg Sargent. "Now the question becomes whether Obama will step in and get it across the finish line."
The White House had been keeping this whole thing at arm's length, despite the fact that this is their project. Success or failure; the Obama administration owns this and the sooner they realize that, the better off they'll be. The time to get on the stick was a couple of months ago, but it's not too late to do it now.
