Rising insurance costs lift national health care debate.

Is another debate over national health care just around the corner? If a recent hearing before the Wisconsin Assembly Health Committee is any indication, it might be.

National health care was mentioned more than a few times during the March 4 hearing, which the committee held as a warm-up for the new legislative session.

Committee chairman Gregg Underheim called the hearing to review why health care costs have been going up so much this past year. The Oshkosh Republican said he has heard from several constituents - mostly small-business owners - upset about mighty increases in health insurance premiums.

Although the committee reached no conclusions, the hearing gave various industry groups a chance to do a little finger-pointing. Most of those who testified at the hearing were the usual suspects - the lobbyists representing insurance …