Today was the day that Medicare was supposed to take an axe to physicians' fees, slashing them by an average of 10.6 percent, across the board. But last week, in a stunning turn-around, the House voted 355 to 59 to block a pay cut for physicians. The Senate leadership reacted by reneging on a compromise that progressives had forged with conservatives. What ensured included name-calling and open threats on the Senate floor.

Reading about the battle, I couldn't help but think that HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt may be correct when he suggests that Medicare reform could require "a degree of bipartisan statesmanship" that a highly polarized Congress just doesn't posses. Health Care reform may be too hot to handle. Perhaps Congress should delegate the job to someone else.

Read more »