Health Care News Update: Senate Democrats Deal With Lieberman

Thanks to Sen. Joe Lieberman's smart political play, the Senate Democrats have apparently decided to undo the only days-old compromise that would have pushed Americans over the age of 55 into Medicare. Despite the fact that 81% of Democrats reportedly want Lieberman punished for blocking the health care measure, and despite the attacks on Lieberman and his wife from the left, it now seems that his view has carried the day, with an assist from the White House. Bloomberg reports Senators Jay Rockefeller and Tom Harkin, two of the strongest supporters of the public option, are willing to give it up in order to pass a bill. It remains to be seen whether the Democratic base will agree.

Other stories of note today include:

One critical Senator to continued efforts to pass reform is Jim Webb of Virginia, who has yet to take a strong public position and has voted with Republicans on several issues.

National Journal publishes a report on what Americans really want in their health care bill. They are as divided as can be according to most measures.

Slate's Mickey Kaus debunks the notion that anyone knows whether the Senate bill will head to a conference committee or just back to the House for ratification.

An editorial in the Wall Street Journal on cost containment outlines some particularly egregious overstatements on the part of White House budget director Peter Orszag. "ObamaCare's core promise—better quality care for everyone at lower costs—is being exposed as an illusion as it degenerates into the raw exercise of political power. Naturally, the White House and its media booster club are working furiously to prop up this fiasco, especially on cost control."

The Pacific Research Institute publishes a report by John Goodman on how health care reform will effect California -- the picture it paints is not good.

Updates are compiled by contributors to Health Care News.