Another round of stories, editorials and commentaries on healthcare reform have blossomed up across the state and across the country following the President’s prime time news conference last week. Here’s what some of them had to say…

McClatchy Newspapers: Distrust of government blunting Obama’s pursuit of new programs
“If President Barack Obama got anything indisputably right at his news conference last week, it was this: The American people don’t trust the federal government.”

McClatchy Newspapers: Sheer size, impact of health care system seen complicating reform effort
“Why is it so difficult to get an agreement on overhauling America’s health care system? There’s a simple answer: ‘It’s going to affect everybody,’ said House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-CA”

Greenville News: Health reform overreaches and is too costly
“Health-care reform proposals being pushed by Congress and President Barack Obama are too radical, too expensive and vastly overreaching. They’re also far too nebulous given that Obama continues to seek approval of a reform bill within just a few weeks.”

Greenville News: Sen. Jim DeMint urges leaders not to rush on health care
“I like the president,” DeMint said, “but he’s out of control, and he’s been leading a stampede of more spending and debt and taxes and government takeovers. He’s taken a bad economy and made it worse. He used a lot of false promises and bogus numbers and panic to rush through the stimulus, and the promises have not panned out. Now he’s trying to use the same strategies on health care.”

The Politico: Health reform:  Blown deadline, blown chance?
“Jim Clyburn conceded that House Democrats had held a ‘contentious’ closed-door session on Thursday morning, the day after Obama increased the pressure on Congress to get something done on health care.”

The Politico: Health care bill boils down to August battle
“Congress’s failure to deliver major health care legislation by President Barack Obama’s deadline next month transforms the traditionally sleepy August recess into what could be the decisive moment in the battle to win support for the legislation, especially from conservative Democrats considered crucial to its fate.”

The State: DeMint, Dems trade jabs
“There’s been another skirmish in the Great Ad War between Sen. Jim DeMint and the Democratic National Committee, and both sides are claiming victory.”

Associated Press: Gov’t plan can coexist with private insurance
“A new government health insurance plan sought by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats could coexist with private insurers without driving them out of business, an analysis by nonpartisan budget experts suggests.”

Associated Press: Opponents of health overhaul happy as bill drags
“August means beaches and barbecues. And for some, a chance to rally the troops for this fall’s health care showdown.”