Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced a new health care plan that included a revival of sorts for the so-called "public option," or government-run insurance plan. Supposedly as a nod to moderates from states that are not supportive of the government plan, his bill will have a provision allowing states to opt out by 2014. Sounds OK, right? If a state doesn't like the government plan, they can opt out and choose not to participate.

But here's the fine print:

"Those taxes and others required to fund the...public option would be collected from all states, including those that opt out of the plan."

Read that one more time. The massive tax increases associated with this bill, on the order of a half-trillion dollars, will apply to EVERYONE regardless of whether or not their state has opted out. There is no comfort in the opt out provision, no shelter from the tentacles of government reaching inexorably into our health care decisions. Why opt out if you'll have to pay all the taxes but get none of the services (inefficient though they may be)?

Don't let Harry Reid and friends play you. Don't be placated by a phony provision that would do nothing to lessen the blow of this awful bill. Call your Senator today and tell them to oppose this plan. The "opt out" provision is merely to provide political cover for Senators who don't want to take a tough vote. It will only work if you let them.

Call your Senator! 202-224-3121.