It's all about Snowe this Christmas

Despite being the only person in Congress (both in the Senate and the House) to compromise with Democrats and vote for a version of the health care legislation, Snowe (R, Maine) has signaled her opposition to the new compromise bill being put forth by Harry Reid. The compromise would effectively give each individual state the ability to opt-out of the public option if it so desires. However, Snowe's hard-stance refusal shows her unwillingness to step an inch past her current concession on health care - regardless of the weakness behind any public option, she has reined in her liberal side for this issue.

For those of us worried that she was about to pull an Arlen Specter, we can take a breath of relief.

Snowe is not alone, however. Lieberman (I, Connecticut) has also expressed skepticism over the opt-out provision. In an economic state such as ours, any Senator should be; allowing the federal government to take-over such a core component of health care - the insurance industry - will amount to a government corporation that can avoid the pitfalls of the marketplace. The independents are correct to be fearful - or as the Associate Press puts it:

Moderate Democrats...fear a public plan could drive insurers out of business and take over the marketplace...The one Republican who has so far lent her support to Democratic health overhaul proposals, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, said she was "deeply disappointed" by Reid's decision. Snowe had supported allowing government insurance in individual states only if the private market wasn't providing sufficient choice and competition. Among the moderates whose support is in question are Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Landrieu said in a statement that she's still "very skeptical" about a government plan run from Washington but would keep working with Reid to find a "principled compromise. "Nelson "is not committing how we will vote regarding any proposal Sen. Reid is advancing," said spokesman Jake Thompson. Lincoln, who's up for re-election in 2010, said through a spokesman she intends to study the details and decide how to vote based on the impact on her home state.

If liberals decide to go for it all and retain the public option, they will find themselves in a political showdown with Senator Snowe. Democrats have already tripped her up once, and she doesn't seem to want to be put in the same situation once again. Before the new year, we will see Senator Snowe really stick it to the Democrats the way the GOP base wants her to. It will probably Snowe this Christmas - but if it does, it definitely won't be fluffy and white.