Beyond the Dome

If Barack Obama wins the White House in November, he'll want Congress to get his health care plan moving by March or April.

That's what he said this morning at a fundraiser in Denver, according to a pool report distributed by his campaign. When a questioner asked what he'd do during his first 100 days, Obama said one of his top priorities would be his health care overhaul. "We need a bill . . . by March or April to get going before the political season sets in," Obama said, according to the pool report.

Talk about the Audacity of Hope.

Granted, Obama didn't say he wanted the bill finished by March or April. But to anyone who has watched Congress try to work on any legislation of this magnitude, even the thought that the congressional committees would be able to start the serious work that early - with all the industry groups that will demand a say in the hearings - puts a lot of faith in a very creaky system.

Here are the highlights of what Obama is asking for:

• A new national health plan, open to all Americans, based on the benefits in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
• A new National Health Insurance Exchange to help people buy individual coverage.
• Mandatory coverage of all children.
• A required contribution from employers who don't offer health coverage or help their workers buy their own.
• An expansion of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

It may be that Obama deliberately wants to get the health care effort started early to allow as much lead time as possible. But it's still a lot to ask from all the committees that have a piece of the health care system.

If only there was someone Obama could ask who has been through this before . . . someone who knows how hard it is push so many ambitious health care changes through all the committees that would have to sign off on them.

Too bad she's running against him.