Thom Hartmann had some hard facts just now on the prospects for the public option -- that is to say, a public option that "doesn't look like swiss cheese" but is the real thing -- no ability to refuse payment for, say, cancer treatment or seeing a specialist.
First up, of course, is Obama's statement from Russia today that He Wants A Public Option Period. But then there's the news that the healthcare industry is spending a million and a half a day on lobbying.
Add to that the list (half a dozen?) of Max Baucus's former staffies who now are lobbyists for the healthcare industry, and you get the picture. Here's how the Sunlight Foundation puts it:
The Baucus-headed Finance Committee has been singled out by advocates
and news organizations as the toughest obstacle for the President’s
health care priorities. Containing more moderate and conservative
members may not be the only reason. The committee is packed with
lawmakers who have close ties to the health care and insurance
industries, receiving large campaign contributions as their former
staffers turn around to lobby for the very interests whose issues — in
this case health care — they previously worked on. Baucus, as chair,
stands out in particular.
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