OK, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA

I recall reading decades ago a short book by Alice Rivlin which I think was published in the late 60s or early 70s and she argued that we should try pilot programs before doing a fully national roll-out of new Federal programs. I agreed with her then and I still do. It looks like this approach to the public option is gaining some ground with some progressive House Democrats.

Key House Dem. Clyburn: 'half a loaf' on health care better than nothing
By James Rosen | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009

WASHINGTON — House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn is pushing a compromise on the most contentious part of President Barack Obama's bid to provide medical benefits to uninsured Americans.

Instead of a nationwide government insurance program, Clyburn is urging other Democrats to accept a scaled-down public option that would be tested as a pilot program in several parts of the country.

Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, the No. 4 House leader as head of the Democratic Caucus, and Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York, the chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, are strong supporters of using regional pilot programs to test a public option for expanding government health insurance, Clyburn said.