The House of Representatives will soon begin the mark up process on its so-called tri-committee health care proposal, and in these early stages, discussions are under way between the bill's advocates and its potential opponents to help build support for it. One of the key legislators in this process is Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) who has considerable clout with moderates in his party.

I asked him a bit about his coalition building yesterday, and here's what he had to say.

"People are still looking at it and trying to understand it and asking questions. A fair number of moderates are with us, a fair number of moderates have reservations. I met with a number of my friends who you might call moderates, or Blue Dogs, last night and we talked about their concerns and about how their concerns can be met with a bill that I would regard as responsible."

Certain Blue Dogs have raised objections to the public insurance option (or aspects thereof) some of which were addressed when that particular provision was being drafted.