The politicized form of health care known as "Healthy Wisconsin" may be in terminal condition.

The Capital-Times, a Madison-based newspaper, says "Some leading Democrats have begun to hint privately that the plan will not be part of the two-year spending plan for the state, but none have been willing to say publicly that they plan to shelve it."

A top aid to Gov. Jim Doyle, who favors a more modest expansion of government-run health care, says it is a "foregone conclusion Healthy Wisconsin won't be in the budget."

That's good news, as far as it goes. But ambitious plans now make for more modest, bad plans in the future.