Balancing the government's role on health care

Health care reform's most controversial element - the creation of a government-sponsored insurance plan to compete with private health insurers - centers on the eternal Washington conflict that defines party lines on so many issues: How much of a role should the government play? In the latest Washington Post-ABC News...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | October 19, 2009; 05:26 PM ET | Comments (14)

The Home Front on the Public Option

The 13 senators who yesterday voted against both government-sponsored health insurance plans represent populations whose support for health reform improves significantly when the plan does not include just such an option. Among those living in states represented by the 13* Senate Finance Committee members opposing both amendments, a majority in...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | September 30, 2009; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (26)

The Perilous Public Option

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll highlights the potential political impact - both positive and negative - of the battle over what has come to be known as the public option, a government-created health insurance plan to compete with private insurers. Such a plan adds to the challenge of passing...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | September 14, 2009; 06:30 PM ET | Comments (2)

Seniors' Negative Turn on Health Care Reform

Of the several demographic and political groups whose views on health care reform have become more negative over the summer, seniors stand out for both a dramatic shift against reform and the strength of their opposition. In the most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll on health care, those age 65...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | August 28, 2009; 06:25 PM ET | Comments (13)

Gallup: Three in 10 Already Covered by Government

With members of the House and Senate debating the merits of a government-financed "public-option" for health insurance, newly released data from Gallup show that while the vast majority of Americans get their health insurance through their employers, private purchase or some other way, a sizable number of adults already get...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | August 3, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

Blue Dogs on Health Care: Why So Blue?

The House's Blue Dog Democrats have voiced loud objections to the costs of health care reform efforts working their way through several committees, ultimately causing President Obama and their party's congressional leadership to pull back on the deadline they had set for passing a plan. As Chris Cillizza pointed out...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | July 29, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (24)

Obama's Shrinking Approval on Health Care

With Congress' work on a health care reform package underway, support for the President who pressed for quick action on the plan is fading among two critical constituencies according to the new Washington Post-ABC News poll - political independents and women. Barack Obama's approval rating on the issue in the...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | July 20, 2009; 12:32 PM ET | Comments (23)

Health Care Reform Circa 1965: Polling on Medicare

The political battle lasted for years. After one young Democratic president's attempt to change the way some Americans get their health care failed, the fight was revived following the election of another Democrat a few years later. Some favored a government run program. Others backed a plan operated by private...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | July 16, 2009; 12:01 PM ET | Comments (4)

Union Members on Health Care Reform

This week's political main event is taking place at Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court confirmation hearings over on the Hill, but over at the White House, Pres. Obama is pressing on with his health care agenda by meeting with union leaders on the status of that legislation. But while their leadership...

 

By Jennifer Agiesta | July 13, 2009; 06:57 AM ET | Comments (2)