Kathleen Sebelius supports

the public option

H/T to Bilerico's prolific columnist

Alex Blaze

Well, if you want to know why conservatives went crazy over the Sebelius nomination for Secretary of HHS, it isn't because of abortion (which she wouldn't have any power over), it's because of this:

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Barack Obama's choice to head the Health and Human Services Department, said Tuesday she backs his call for giving Americans the option of government-run health insurance as an alternative to private coverage.

The proposal for a public plan that would compete with private insurers has emerged as the most divisive issue as Obama seeks to overhaul the health system to reduce costs and shrink the ranks of 48 million uninsured. Republicans fear that the competing plan would drive some private insurers out of business.

"If the question is do I support a public option side-by-side with private insurers," Sebelius said, "yes I do."

The public option is pretty much the worst fear of the health care industry. Imagine them having to compete with a government agency - they'd have to be fair to consumers, keep prices down, and expand coverage... or go out of business.

Because this proves all their bluster about government being ineffective wrong. If they really think a public option will be expensive and inefficient, then why do they fear it?

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