We recently put out a whitepaper speaking on some key insights into the current political debacle surrounding health care reform.  Go here to request your free copy. 

Here is a passage from the whitepaper:

When/if the Sen. Finance version is announced, do NOT get bogged in the little details in the legislation.  (The media & special interests will go nuts on the minutia as if each is a major issue.)  Instead, focus on a few big factors, such as if it proposes a public plan paying uncompetitive low prices.  If it does not (and all signs have been that it will not), and if whatever they propose (such as public co-ops) do not provide a probable path to a government sponsored take-over of the health coverage market, then Congress has a probably-unsolvable deadlock, and major Health Reform legislation will be finished for now.

So, while the Senate Finance Committee is the key factor in the first weeks of September, there is growing impatience (jealousy? resentment?) by other members of Congress who feel like bit actors in a sideshow.  Some may try to break away and push through their own versions.  However, anything less than a very balanced proposal will simply create greater internal political obstacles.