In his article, the WW's Stern quotes Josh Kardon, chief of staff for Wyden, who was the Oregon delegation's point man in getting Kitzhaber's innovative Oregon Health Plan past Gore, whose bitter opposition strained relations with the then-governor. Kardon said"Vice-President Gore was the single biggest impediment to securing the necessary federal waiver for the Oregon Health Plan. I know this because then-Congressman Wyden was tasked with getting administration approval given his background, seniority, and committee assignment, and I was the lead staff in the eventually-successful effort." I honestly do not believe Kardon was stretching the truth to fit my preferred narrative. Full Article at BlueOregon