One More Time…

Just to be clear, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants the world to know that a health reform proposal lacking a public option won’t become law because it won’t pass the House.

“Any real change requires the inclusion of a strong public option to promote competition and bring down costs,” she said in a statement issued late Thursday.

A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage.

It’s difficult to say, at this point, whether this is a warning shot intended for the Republicans dead-set on killing health reform this year, or for President Obama, who plans to lay out his detailed health policy wish list next Wednesday.