TheNextReport

Reid Reads the Handwriting on the Wall Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave birth to the official Senate version of the Democratic plan for health reform, by announcing that it will contain a plan that includes a public option. Individual states could opt out of participation in the federal plan. Widely viewed as moribund just a few months ago, President Obama's idea for a non-profit, government administered health insurance to compete against private insurers was on life support since the summer when Republicans appeared to succeed in manipulating the public dialog with a program of manufactured, incendiary attacks. Condemned from the outset by the GOP, the public option has steadily grown in the esteem of the voters according to recent polls. A Washington Post poll this week came in at above 60% in favor; one tally from SurveyUSA showed support at close to 77% As proposed by Senator Reid and colleagues this particular version of the public option will come up short in the eyes

Health Care: Your Money or Your Life (part 2) Today the Congressional Budget Office reported the results of its study on the Obama health plan, concluding that the proposal, when featuring a non-profit, government run component known as "the public option," would lower the deficit and cost the country $30 billion less than had been originally predicted. Coming in at $871 billion over the next 10 years, the tally surprised many. The report was music to the ears of supporters of the public option who have fought for its inclusion in final legislation despite intense opposition by the insurance industry and the Republicans in Congress. It has always been a bit hard to believe that money would be a legitimate stumbling block as the United States struggles to emerge from the Dark Ages and give its citizens access to universal health care. Critics of the Obama administration have consistently blasted Democratic proposals for health reform as being too expensive, insisting that the

Snowe Job, or When History Calls, Olympia Goes Rogue Maine senator Olympia Snowe made big headlines by being the lone Republican to vote with the Democrats this week for the health reform bill constructed by chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus. "When history calls, history calls," she said trying to underscore her momentous move. Well, if history is any judge, a Republican politician's support for any important piece of social legislation - be it Medicare, Social Security or civil rights - could quickly evaporate. Indeed, within hours of the vote, Ms. Snowe turned around and issued a caveat by saying that her thumbs-up on the Baucus bill does not necessarily mean she will also say aye as the legislation makes its way through the mandatory committees and on to a final congressional vote. It is a senator's job to reflect the opinion of her constituents and perhaps take her conscience into account before making a decision. Though some Democratic lead