President Obama said in a press conference yesterday (audio here) that his Administration has “not drawn lines in the sand” on his proposal for a public health plan that competes with private insurers. He had to be pushed by two reporters to admit this, but really it’s in line with earlier comments from White House health czar Nancy-Ann DeParle (see prior post), who indicated in April that the President was open to compromise on the issue.
I view the comments — then and now — as further indication that when all is said and done there won’t be a public health plan that competes with private insurers. That said, Obama (not known for emotion) worked himself up a bit during the press conference in support of the public plan concept, which he called “an important tool to discipline insurance companies.”
The House and the American people are on his side on the issue (see prior post). The Senate Finance Committee isn’t. My guess is SFC — sadly — will win the day.
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