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We’re talking about something that’s not going to be part of the legislation,”
I’m quite sad that a public option isn’t in there. But it isn’t a case of it’s not in there because the Senate is whipping against it. It’s not in there because they don’t have the votes to have it in there.
“We had it,” “We wanted it. They didn’t have it. It’s not in the reconciliation.”
”The public option just might get its straight up-or-down vote after all.
Senator Bernie Sanders, in a brief interview in the Capitol just now, confirmed to me [Greg Sargent] that he’s willing to commit to introducing an amendment that would add the public option to the Senate bill’s reconciliation fix.
This is important, because as far fetched as this seems, if this amendment is introduced, a vote on it would be very hard for the Senate Dem leadership to block. The only thing that could stop it from happening, according to Senate expert Robert Dove, is for the parliamentarian to rule that it’s not germane to the Senate bill somehow — something that seems unlikely.
“I think somebody should do that, and I’d certainly be prepared to do that,” Sanders told me when I asked him if he’d be willing to commit to introducing a public option amendment. This is, in effect, a commitment to introduce the amendment if no one else does.
continue reading… theplumline
“he [Pres. Obama] personally committed to pursue a public option after passage of the current bill.”
(D) Con. Raul Grijalva
Obama promises to pursue a public option later - Ezra Klein
There is no support for a Public Option! There is no support for a Public Option! If I say it enough it will be so.
* In Nevada, only 34% support the Senate bill, while 56% support the public option.
* In Illinois, only 37% support the Senate bill, while 68% support the public option.
* In Washington State, only 38% support the Senate bill, while 65% support the public option.
* In Missouri, only 33% support the Senate bill, while 57% support the public option.
* In Virginia, only 36% support the Senate bill, while 61% support the public option.
* In Iowa, only 35% support the Senate bill, while 62% support the public option.
*In Minnesota, only 35% support the Senate bill, while 62% support the public option.
*In Colorado, only 32% support the Senate bill, while 58% support the public option.
via firedoglake
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One-third of voters in Nevada say they would be more likely to vote for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this fall if he wins passage of the public option in the health care bill, according to a poll released today.
Reid continues to trail his potential Republican opponents by double-digit margins, according to the Research 2000 poll. But Reid could peel off 20 percent of support from Republicans Danny Tarkanian or Sue Lowden if he won passage of the public option.
”Poll: Passing public option would lift Harry Reid’s re-election chances.
Putting aside the condescending way George Will speaks to Arianna Huffington here, if what he is saying is so true then why, in most polls, are Americans in favor of some sort of Health Care reform? And if asked correctly (in an honest way) are they in favor of a Public Option?
“If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes.”
“Got a DNC survey in October. This is what I said to the donation request.” - MikeUehlein
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“It will be revisited, I’m just saying, I believe it is so vital and so important that it is going to be revisited. Believe me.”
The Iowa Democrat said that “even next year,” senators “may be doing some things to modify, to fix, to compliment what we’ve passed here.”
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told reporters that the public option is not dead.
“
He assured you that the Medicare buy-in and the public option are out, I asked?
“Correct,” she said.
”
public option meltdown
If this trade-off carries the day, the opt out public is gone.
In its place will be many of the alternatives we’ve been hearing about, including a Medicare expansion and a triggered, federally-based public option.
As has been widely reported, one of the trade-offs will be to extend a version of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan to consumers in the exchanges. Insurance companies will have the option of creating nationally-based non-profit insurance plans that would offered on the exchanges in every state. However if insurance companies don’t step up to the plate to offer such plans, that will trigger a national public option.
Beyond that, the group agreed—contingent upon CBO analysis—to a Medicare buy in.
That buy-in option would be available to uninsured people aged 55-64 in 2011—before the exchanges open. For the period between 2011 and 2014, when the exchanges do open, the Medicare option will not be subsidized (and so will likely be quite expensive). However, after the exchanges launch, the Medicare option would be on the exchanges, where people could pay into it with the exchanges.
continue reading… tpm - Democrats Agree Tentatively Trade Opt-Out For Trigger, Medicare Buy In, And More
GOP effort to mock public option backfires as Dems like idea
By proposing an amendment that would require members of Congress to register for public health care if the so-called public option were to pass, the two Republicans hoped to further deter their colleagues from voting in favor.
The hitch in their plan: several Democrats took them seriously.
publicoptionplease - art contest
