One of the key issues in the health care reform debate is whether there will be a government-sponsored insurance provider (similar to Medicare) that will be available for everyone (as an alternative to private providers).Obama pledged, during the campaign, to support a government-sponsored provider. Now, however, he may be backing off from the idea. Evidently Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) opposes a government provider, and Obama views Grassley as a necessary ally in the health care reform battle.
Liberal interest groups, and 70 House Democrats, are not pleased with Obama's possible change of heart.
It sounds like the White House may try to finesse this issue by making it a definitional one:
'In comments last week, Nancy-Ann DeParle, head of the White House Office of Health Reform, said the ultimate solution may rest in how a public plan is defined. "There are different breeds of public plans that could be part of this," she said, explaining that the Medicare model is not the only approach.'
