October 29, 2009 10:20AM 

# Can’t Achieve Public Option Without Deception 

By [Michael D. Tanner](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-d-tanner) 

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Speaker Pelosi is set to [unveil a health care bill](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aZ8rXQejqhbU) today including yet another version of the so-called public option. This one would let providers “negotiate” reimbursement rates with the government-run program.

That’s the health care equivalent of negotiating with Tony Soprano.

But regardless of how much lipstick they put on this pig, it still is a government takeover of the health care system that would all but eliminate private insurance and force millions of Americans into a government-run system. Apparently the House leadership has decided that if at first you can’t get the votes by being honest about your true intentions, lie, lie, again.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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