Pomeroy’s “Kumbaya” Moment With Nancy Pelosi

Gee, ain’t this cute:

But Pelosi’s patience has its limits, and she occasionally let her frustration show, publicly questioning the always-agreeable Earl Pomeroy about which way he would vote when the North Dakota Democrat questioned the inclusion of a controversial long-term care program.
However, the speaker called Pomeroy a few days later to let him know that it looked like his top priority — a public option that lets doctors and hospitals negotiate rates with the government — would be included in the final bill. By the end of the 10-minute chat, Pomeroy seemed to suggest he was willing to back the bill.
And so last week, before she and her colleagues marched outside to the West Front of the Capitol to unveil their bill, the speaker apologized to Pomeroy in front of the entire caucus after trying to embarrass him in the same room a week earlier.
Touched, Pomeroy apologized, too, prompting Connecticut Rep. John Larson to joke that they were having a “real ‘Kumbaya’ moment.”
Pomeroy, who had been on the fence, took that moment one step further when he told his colleagues that he was ready to support the bill. They returned the favor by giving him rousing applause.
“When negotiated rates were in there, I felt duty-bound to support the bill,” Pomeroy said.

What I don’t get is how negotiated rates are different from non-negotiated rates when you’re talking about the government.
Is anyone really suffering under the delusion that the private sector can negotiate with the government? The entity that also makes all the rules and creates all the regulations? The entity that can summon private sector executives before Congress for a very public scolding if they don’t toe the line?
Please. This negotiation thing is a ruse.