Despite numerous references in the Wednesday night health care speech to "the plan," the NY Times admits that, in fact, there is no White House plan. This is being farmed out to Congress, and Mr. Obama has no intention of providing written guidance.
A White House spokesman, Reid Cherlin, said that the president’s proposals would bar illegal immigrants from purchasing private insurance through the new government marketplace, known as an exchange, and that verification of immigration status would be required for anyone seeking to purchase coverage.
Although Mr. Obama in his speech referred to his “plan,” the White House has not developed a written legislative health care proposal and does not intend to do so, instead relying on committees in Congress, which have drafted several versions of the bill, some running more than 1,000 pages
In fact, the White House, until now, has not proposed blocking illegal immigrants from obtaining insurance under any bill, and although the first paragraph above refers to the "president's proposals," the second makes clear that he hasn't produced any. Democrats in Congress blocked efforts to insert just such language, and I don't recall any guidance from the White House directing the Congressional leadership to pass those amendments.
Courage.
