Does this count as robust? "House Democrats preparing to unveil legislation to overhaul the health-care system signaled Wednesday that they would include a more conservative version of a government-run insurance plan that would negotiate payment rates with hospitals and doctors," Martin Vaughan and Naftali Bendavid write for The Wall Street Journal.
"Robust" used to mean payments tied to Medicare rates ... "After a series of discussions over the last couple of days, we've come to realize it's very tough to get to that point," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.
"The government-run insurance company created by her bill would negotiate payment rates with health care providers just like private insurance companies," per ABC's Jonathan Karl. "Pelosi simply could not get the votes to pass the 'robust' version she prefers."
Remember those liberals who told Pelosi it was robust or bust? "Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) just called their bluff -- and they appear ready to fold," Roll Call's Tory Newmyer and Steven T. Dennis report.
Hardly a line in the sand: "We will insist on making it as strong as it can possibly be," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.
"After months of public hand-wringing and strident proclamations in support of the strongest possible government-run health coverage, liberal Democrats are bowing to the reality that party leaders don't have the votes," Politico's Patrick O'Connor reports.
(Will the Netroots take this one in stride? One early answer from Jane Hamsher, at FireDogLake: "Today was a huge defeat for the American taxpayer, serious health care reform, and working class Americans who are going to be denied a robust public option which could have saved them thousands of dollars.")
President Obama is meeting with the House Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on health reform, at 5:05 pm ET in the Roosevelt Room.