The President’s drive for a public option is rife with all sorts of rumors as to the ultimate “flavor” the legislation will actually entail. The WH released its own pithy piece this morning; at the same time there are rumblings that those same insurance companies Obama wants to hold accountable actually favor his reported desire to use a trigger mechanism to spur a PO in the event of market failure. Apparently jettisoned are the “opt-out” provisions that individual states can employ if they simply choose not to participate in the market-influenced PO.

This leaves Obama’s progressive base a little perplexed (and maybe nonplussed) as to his next move. Obama’s progressive credentials appear to be growing more conservative by the hour as this week gets started. Perhaps the WH’s intention with its press release is that he is trying to assure his more liberal (and less center) base that he is actively involved in committee negotiations between the House and Senate to design a much less Insurance-favored design with respect to the PO. However, based upon what Sens. Harkin (D-IA) and Brown (D-OH) are saying, the President really hasn’t let them in on his plans for more progressive language. | LINK

UPDATE: There does appear to be an “opt-out” provision for states in the Reid (D-NV) version.

Details of the legislation could change, but its broad outlines are becoming clear. Employers with more than 50 workers wouldn’t be required to provide health insurance, but they would face fines of up to $750 per employee if even part of their work force received a government subsidy to buy health insurance, this person said. A bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee had a lower fine of up to $400 per employee… The bill is expected to expand health coverage to tens of millions of Americans by giving low- and middle-income Americans subsidies to offset the cost of insurance, and expanding the Medicaid federal-state insurance program to cover a broader swath of the poor. Most people would be required to buy insurance or pay a fine, though exceptions would be made for those deemed unable to afford it.

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