Obama Retreats on Government Health Insurance Plan

By: Philip Elliott

Source: thegrio.com

President Barack Obama is willing to embrace insurance cooperatives over a government-run plan as the White House faces mounting opposition to its broad overhaul of the nation’s health care system.

Bowing to Republican pressure and offering political cover to fiscally conservative Democrats, Obama’s administration signaled on Sunday that it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance. The shift leaves open a chance for compromise with Republicans that probably would enrage Obama’s liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that a government alternative to private health insurance is “not the essential element” of the administration’s health care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.

Obama backs away from public health insurance plan