Healthcare

President Obama has acceded that there won't be a healthcare plan coming out of Congress before the August recess. Tony says strategically, this could be tricky for him if members go home and constituents get angry and tell them not to move ahead. Bob says he doesn't understand the rush, that some reform is worse than the status quo. Then, a deeper discussion of the single-payer idea, which Matt doesn't support. He does, however, support a government plan, either through vouchers or another idea, and wants to take the cost of health care on business out of the equation. He points to Wyden/Bennett proposal as cost-neutral, per the CBO, but it can't get traction because everyone's trying to protect the employer-based system. (Arianna Huffington is away.)

Banner image: President Barack Obama tries his hand operating a state-of-the-art robotic surgical system while touring the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, yesterday. White House Photo: Pete Souza