57% in Poll Back Public Option

Majority of Americans want it tossed out by Supreme Court

(NEWSER) - As the Supreme Court prepares to open hearings on the constitutionality of the federal health care law next week, a new poll finds that Americans oppose the law 52% to 41%. And an even higher percentage—67%—want the court to either throw out the entire Affordable Care Act, or at least ditch the individual mandate, which requires almost all Americans to be covered by health insurance. More»

President takes more hands-on approach to legislation

(NEWSER) - President Obama is growing more assertive on Capitol Hill. Since he took office, the president's supporters have criticized him for not exerting enough control over the details of legislation, instead letting Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi hammer out specifics—even on major administration goals, like the health care bill. On legislation this week concerning the Gulf oil spill and financial regulation, Obama has switched to a prescriptive style, reports Politico . More»

Unlike health care, bill is anything but watered down

(NEWSER) - After the pinball-esque drubbing health reform took before Congress spit it out, it's Wall Street's turn. But, reports Politico , the financial reform bill making its way through the Capitol is actually picking up fangs rather than being rendered toothless. Democrats know they have the wind at their backs, Republicans can't afford to be perceived as siding with the Street, and as a result, the measure is gaining once-unlikely provisions. More»

Suddenly, it looks like smooth sailing for Dodd's bill

(NEWSER) - Health care has given the White House and Democrats a serious dose of momentum, and it looks as though that will result in easy passage of a stronger-than-expected financial reform bill. Republicans are backing off, and Democrats are sticking together to fend off Wall Street lobbyists who assumed they could weaken the bill, writes Norm Scheiber. President Obama, meanwhile, is pressing Chris Dodd and Barney Frank "not to dither." More»

Americans aren't undecided, and the public option was DOA: Cillizza

(NEWSER) - With health care reform seemingly headed for passage now that Bart Stupak's on board, Chris Cillizza looks back at the debate and finds five persistent arguments with little or no grounding in reality.

• Scott Brown was a game-changer: "Yes and no," Cillizza writes for the Washington Post . Lacking a supermajority, the Democrats have had to tread carefully, "but the meat of the bill—an attempt at broad reform—never really changed"