MINNEAPOLIS, March 10, 2008—A commentary piece co-written by former Minnesota Republican Governor Arne Carlson suggests that a bipartisan consensus for health care reform exists, if politicians are brave enough to look for it.

In "Health-care debate is needlessly polarized," published in Saturday's Star Tribune, Carlson and Richard Lamm, former Democratic governor of Colorado, challenge Congress to locate the key issues where "red and blue" states find common cause.

There seems to be consensus that universal coverage is a goal worth working toward, the two ex-governors said. Voters in Washington and Iowa reject the idea of government-run health care, but they also reject the idea that health should be a personal responsibility like car insurance. Citizens agree that health care should be a responsibility shared by employers, individuals and the government.

Given this agreement on core health care principles, the two urged the creation of a "Voters' Health Care Platform" that most Americans would support.

Complete Star Tribune commentary