Crazy. If this account is right, the White House is deferring to Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe on health care legislation not as strong as a version that may be nearing enough approval for passage in the Senate.
“They’re skeptical of opt out and are generally deferential to the Snowe strategy that involves the trigger,” said one source close to negotiations between the Senate and the White House. “they’re certainly not calming moderate’s concerns on opt out.”
This new development, which casts the White House as an opponent of all but the most watered down form of public option, is likely to yield backlash from progressives, especially those in the House who have been pushing for a more maximal version of reform.
One vote does not a bipartisan bill make. Just wait til the Repubs start trashing it after passage.