Mike Ross and his fellow Blue Dogs have been beating the rest of the House and Senate Dems about the head and shoulders everytime any sensible health care reform promises negatively to impact the near term deficit numbers. In particular, they declare the “public option” DOA, even threatening to bolt party discipline if forced to vote in its favor.

Frequently, their aversion to spending public funds is couched in flowery and ideologically ornate protestations about self reliance and liberty and such shit.

It turns out that Ross is ok with the public option closest to single provider, Medicare for everybody , just as long as we spend .more public money.:

“Medicare could be offered as a choice to compete alongside private insurers for those Americans eligible to enter the national health insurance exchange, but at a reimbursement rate much greater than current Medicare rates,”

Medicare is already 75% funded from the general fisc; Blue Dog Ross wants to add a generous surcharge, which will all fall to the puclicly financed portion, meaning higher taxes/deficits, all so that health care costs can be protected from reduction.

It’s nice when the running dogs of the rich and rapacious are stupid enough to show their true colors.