Senate Democrats are once again laying the groundwork for a federal public option.
Last week, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and his fellow Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee released a request for information seeking ideas to expand health coverage — including creation of a government-run “public option” insurance plan.
Its supporters describe the public option as simply another choice for consumers.
But a government-run plan wouldn’t enter the market on equal footing with private insurers. Washington would write the rules, enforce them, and compete under them simultaneously.
