Is the IV Bag half-empty or half-full? Theda Skocpol, the author of a forthcoming book on President Barack Obama’s health care reforms, argues in the Nation that progressives are underrating reform.

On Friday afternoon May 21, WellPoint released the official tally for the voting from their contentions annual shareholders meeting on the 18th. Our resolution to return Wellpoint to non-profit status received over 30 million votes, 9.4% of the shares voted. That is a jaw dropping vote of no confidence in the management of this company. But the story isn’t over yet. Our shareholder resolution for WellPoint to return to its non-profit Blue Cross roots will be back next year. And the SEC has proposed a new regulation that would allow shareholders to directly nominate corporate board members called “Proxy Access.” If this goes into effect this fall as expected, I intend to run for the WellPoint board.

By now, we’re all well aware that Anthem Blue Cross in California has decided to withdraw its obcene 39% rate increase under intense scrutiny from California officials, HHS and the Obama administration, and Congress.

But a piece of the news seems to be flying under the radar.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s comment last night reminded everyone how far the President’s health reform summit has diverted the nation from where this debate should have been.

Report on the final outcome of the trail of Joe Szakos, Executive Director of the Virginia Organizing Project

The nation’s largest insurer, WellPoint, wants the state of Maine to guarantee them a profit, and they’re suing the state to get the rate increases that would do so.