Health care reform is likely to be expensive, both for the federal government and the states, but not so much for Nevada, thanks to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The leader of the Democrats in the Senate has gotten a special rule inserted into the primary health care reform bill that would provide extra money to his state to offset the additional costs of the measure. ...

As Senate majority leader, Reid should be focused on creating the best health care reform measure for the entire nation, one that works in every state, not just Nevada and a few others.

But that's not his motivation. He faces a tough re-election fight and will do whatever is necessary to win.

... Doing the right thing for the country won't win him another term. Getting more money for Nevada will.

The situation also should remind Americans we don't have the money to afford massive expansions in government entitlements. States don't have the money to pay for this expanded coverage. The federal government will pay for it by borrowing more, counting on you to someday pay it back with interest.

That national debt is growing faster than a malignant tumor on the nation's economy and social welfare. It is likely to be a bigger problem than rising health care costs, affecting this nation's prosperity and independence for decades.

— Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald Journal