Moderate Democrats May Stall Healthcare Reform Bill

  The president may be finding a little opposition to his “public option” on health-care reform from an unexpected place– moderate Democrats. Over 100 moderate Democrats, who have dubbed themselves the New Democrat Coalition, have called a meeting with the Blue Dog Democrats to show that there is major opposition to this bill in the president’s own party.

  It seems that some members of congress may still actually believe in the free market system over government sponsored programs after all.

The discussion will focus on the so-called public option in health care. Moderates want to ensure that that government-backed health care plan doesn’t undermine the private market.

  The president is moving too fast on this issue and he may be over-reaching. It is one thing for conservative Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats to oppose the health-care reform bill but if the president is truly losing the support of centrists Democrats he should be concerned.

  This news coupled with the news that the American Medical Association is opposed to government run health-care are two big setbacks for this bill. Hopefully the moderate Democrats and the Blue Dog Democrats will not succumb to party pressure on this issue and will stand with conservative Republicans to bring this bill to a swift demise.

  I don’t think that is going to happen, but any time the government proposes a new program that will cost $1 trillion and will also need to raise an additional $600 billion in new taxes everyone should be leery. Besides, as well as Medicare and Medicaid are being run, do we really want to put all of our health-care needs in the deciding hands of the government?

  I don’t think so.