news-record.com

North Carolina's two senators stand in different places on the hotly debated health care issue. Both may be in the right place, for now.

Republican Richard Burr staked out a position early, co-sponsoring a bill in May that other members of his party may rally around. It provides tax credits for individuals and families to purchase private health insurance and adds measures aimed at expanding coverage and holding down rates.

His plan won't prevail, but it might contain some features Democrats would adopt in exchange for Republican cooperation.

Democrat Kay Hagan, meanwhile, is not committed to any proposal. In particular, she hasn't yet embraced a public-option component advanced by President Barack Obama and backed by many Democrats in Congress.

Hagan's reluctance has invited pressure from key constituent groups in her party, some of which are funding a media campaign asking voters to urge their senators and representatives to support the president. Polls show strong approval of a public option.

Although Obama wants a bill on his desk by October, Hagan isn't rushing a decision. She's taking a wise and cautious approach, considering all the details that haven't been laid out.

Hagan's concerns include the impact on private insurers of a public option. A government-run program is touted as a means to increase competition and force down prices, but if it pushes companies out of business through subsidized pricing or one-sided regulations, the end result will be less competition.

At the same time, there must be a guarantee of affordable coverage for people who are currently denied because of pre-existing conditions or other risk factors. The Burr plan calls for "state-based health exchanges," which he describes as "a voluntary, one-stop marketplace of insurance plans." That might be a step in the right direction, but what's "voluntary" is likely to leave out some who ought to be included.

Hagan affirms that "everybody should be covered." She's also focusing on access to medical providers, efficiency in health care delivery and prevention as well as treatment.

The freshman from Greensboro proved during her 10 years as a state senator and already during her short tenure in Washington that health care is one of her priorities. Constituents should trust her to find practical solutions -- although she could put their minds at ease by shedding significant personal or family investments in health care companies. The fact is, however, that successful reform must involve government and industry, retaining what already works but replacing what doesn't. Hagan's experience shows she can work effectively with the public and private sectors.

Too many politicians are stuck in fixed positions. Hagan thinks she can "bridge the divide and get things done." That's important.

The real divide in this country now is the gap between many Americans and health care security. It will take serious bridge-building to fix it.