U.S. Congress could compromise on health care overhaul: experts

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Amid heated public debate, lawmakers could opt for a watered down version of U.S. President Barack Obama's health care reform bill, experts said.

The White House signaled Sunday that it may drop the legislation's "public option" -- a government run plan for free health coverage -- sending Congressional Democrats reeling and setting the stage for a political dust up after the August recess.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration did not consider the public option an "essential element" of the health care overhaul, despite Obama's previous contrary statements.

While members of Congress vowed to continue pushing for the option, experts said they may end up compromising with Republicans, who favor an alternative.

Advocates have trumpeted the public option as a solution to America's health care woes -- millions of Americans are uninsured -- while others have criticized it as a costly government intrusion into people's lives. And that sentiment could make it difficult for Obama to muster the votes needed to pass the legislation, experts said.

Henry Aaron, senior fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, said Democrats in Congress may ultimately seek middle ground. "I think they will moan and groan but unless they can show they've got the votes to pass it, they'll go along with it," he said. "Most elected officials would rather succeed through compromise" than accept flat-out defeat, he said.

Still it is possible the administration could make a third or fourth quarter comeback on the issue. "We'll find out when members come back in September," he said.