Would Christie opt out?

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 02:52:51 PM EDT

In private, aides on Capitol Hill say that the opt-out option remains one of several proposals being debating as a compromise to a straightforward national public plan. But, they add, it is quickly winning plaudits within the caucus.

That of course raises the serious question of whether a Governor Chris Christie, who so casually dismisses mandates New Jersey has in place to protect its citizens in the face of profit-hungry insurance companies, would opt out if given that chance. Wanna bet?

The whole idea of "compromising" on public option is idiotic, because the point is scale and bulk negotiating, which you lose if all Republican states opt out (h/t bytheshore). Then there's the issue that before we give Republican states the chance to opt out of a public option, we have to deal with those Democrats - Congressional and Presidential - who would be completely letting us down if that was allowed to happen.

There's also this view, which suggests we let state opt out happen, if that's the only legislation we can get ... and let GOP electeds have to deal with voters denied what they need.

Chris Christie would sell us out in a second.