The path to a bipartisan deal would have to involve both policy and political trade-offs. On the political side, Democrats would have to convince Republicans that there are limits to how much government can get involved in health care, since the GOP -- as well as some liberal Democrats -- sees the public option as a back-door way to convert the health care system into a government-run, single-payer program. Obama has said many times that's not his goal, but the Republicans "aren't dealing with the president now. They're dealing with Congress," said Len Nichols, director of the health policy program at the New America Foundation. "They want to see it in print."  Original article (subscription required)

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