Public Option: Trick or Liberal Treat?

Tony Perkins, FRC Washington Update: When Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) announced yesterday that he was reviving the government takeover option, people on both sides of the aisle were left wondering--what's the Majority Leader up to? Ben Pershing of the Washington Post has a few theories. The decision was either: about his home state of Nevada, where a government takeover has been pushed by liberal groups within the state; it's a trick meant to satisfy the far Left; or it's about the moderate Democrats who will be pressured to choose between their constituents and the leadership.

Any way he slices it, Sen. Reid is just short of the 60 votes he needs to pass the plan. Not only would it require a small miracle to overcome the objections of his own party (Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Ben Nelson (D-NE) are opposed and today Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CN) threatened to filibuster), but adding the government takeover option could crush the administration's hope for a bipartisan bill.

Although Sen. Reid tempered the plan with an "opt-out" provision for states, the plan appears to give the states more autonomy than it actually does. While leaders can opt-out of receiving government-run health care in the states, they can't opt-out of paying for it. The larger issue is that not many states could refuse the plan in their current political climate. As the Heritage Foundation points out, Democrats control both chambers of the legislature and the state house in 17 states. "In another 24, Democrats control at least one legislative chamber or the governor's mansion... That means Americans in 41 states are... guaranteed to have no choice but to endure the government-run health plan."

Of course, the irony is that Congress is already enjoying its own opt-out, since it refuses to participate in whatever plan passes. None of the leaders who vote for this watered down coverage are obliged to enroll in it. Instead Members will force taxpayers into rationed care while they kick back with VIP benefits that most Americans can only dream of.

Meanwhile, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) is doing everything he can to ensure that the unborn aren't aborted under the legislation. On C-SPAN, Rep. Stupak talked about just how committed he is to protecting children--no matter what the political cost. "Somewhere in this process, we have to be able to vote our conscience... If this language [funding abortion] is there, many of the 40 will not vote for this bill." C-SPAN pressed, "Are you willing to proceed if it costs you your seat?" Rep. Stupak replied, "Yes... If it costs me my seat, so be it."

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