"Compromise" = Bowing Down

Obama’s trip comes as a possible compromise emerged in the Senate to one of the most vexing obstacles in the health care reform debate. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., offered a plan to create health care cooperatives owned by groups of residents and small businesses. They would operate as nonprofits and without the government involvement that troubles Republicans and others about other public plan options. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, said Wednesday the idea could be key to a bipartisan health bill.

First, here’s a news flash. We don’t need a bipartisan bill, either to pass it or to please the American people.

Universal Healthcare, thanks to some Senate manuevering, will need only 51 votes in upper chamber, the bare minimum majority. By the time the vote happens, Democrats will have 60. The math needs no explanation.

And politically, there is a great groundwell for major change in healthcare, with 50 million uninsured and millions more bankrupted despite the insurance they do have. Poll after poll indicates strong support for major reform, including AT LEAST a public option.

Collectives are great — when they apply to local grocery stores or dentists offices. But something tells me residents and small businesses won’t have the bully pulpit or purchase power that A WELL FINANCED PUBLIC OPTION BACKED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT would. Pretty sure residents and small businesses are already suffering under the thumb of health insurers. How would “collectives” change any of that?

Oh, right. They wouldn’t. And I suppose that is the point. When you have Kent Conrad and Max Baucus in charge, though, you shouldn’t be surprised.