It has become obvious that Democratic leaders in Congress are not able to marshal the votes necessary to pass the “public option.”

The public option refers to a government-run insurance program that would compete with private health insurance plans. In an attempt to rescue the public option, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has proposed an “opt-out public option.” The idea is that a public health insurance option will be created and funded by the federal government, but states can choose whether or not to participate. And we also learned that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wants to re-name the public option, so it sounds less like a taxpayer supported, government program.

Reid’s opt-out and Pelosi’s change-in lexicon are simply attempts to cover the final objective: complete federal takeover of the medical payment system in America.

Federal programs are funded with federal taxes, paid by individuals and businesses in all the states. A percentage of every American’s federal income taxes will go to fund the public plan. Therefore, it would make no financial or political sense for any state to opt out. Opting out would result in paying the freight (federal income taxes) without reaping the benefit (federal money to insure some residents). No Republican or Democratic politician could justify such a decision. No state will opt out.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has noted that the opt-out is a cynical “sham” which would require the states “to pay the money ahead of time — in other words, pay increased taxes for four years — then the program will fully kick in four years out. And even if you do opt out, your state and your citizens have to continue to pay their share of the bill.”

Make no mistake about it. The various iterations of health care proposals in Congress are all geared toward a federal takeover of medical care payments. No state will opt out of the public option. No insurance company can compete with a government that doesn’t have to make a profit, and can generate “additional capital” by borrowing, printing money, and additional taxation.

The House bill advanced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi lacks the so called opt-out. Of the House bill, Minnesota Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson has said, “I have so many problems with this bill I don’t even know where to start — too much government bureaucracy, not making the reforms that we need to make in the health care system overall. I don’t think there’s any way that I could support what they’re doing unless they start over. That’s how bad it is.”

Unfortunately for the residents of the 1st Congressional District, Tim Walz has signaled he intends to support a public option which would cut Medicare, raise taxes and explode the deficit further.

Washington Democrats are coming up with all kinds of rhetorical nuances to convince Americans that they aren’t seeking a single-payer, government run system. Don’t fall for it.

The intent is to put Washington in charge of your medical care. Opt-outs and changes in lexicon are just distractions. Please, Reid between the lines.

Tony Sutton is chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.