Vermont inches closer to single payer

POLITICO's Sarah Kliff reports today that a handful of states are scrambling to nullify the federal health care legislation -- but Vermont is trending in the opposite direction. Under the stewardship of the state's Democratic governor, a bill that moves the state toward single payer passed the state's lower chamber:

After a full day and evening of debate, the Vermont House gave preliminary approval to health care reform legislation that's designed to put the state on the path toward a single payer system.

The vote on the measure was 89-47.

Backers of the bill say it's needed because the state's current health care approach is broken. But opponents say it could dismantle the high quality system that's already in place.