Reid proposes public option in Senate healthcare reform bill

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that he will include an option for federal health insurance in the legislation that he is preparing.

Reid, a Nevada Democrat who spoke at an afternoon news conference, said his proposal would allow states to choose to drop out of the federal program. By giving states a choice, Reid is hoping to ease objections to a public option from conservatives on his own side of the aisle.

The public option has been one of the most fiercely debated points as lawmakers push to formulate a healthcare plan that can be passed in both houses of Congress. Republicans and some conservative Democrats have questioned the cost of any public option as well as what some see as an increased role for the government in the insurance field.

“The best way to move forward is with a public option with the opt-out provision for states,” Reid said. “I believe the public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system.”

Reid’s move is part of the blending of two different bills that have passed Senate committees, one that included a public option and the other that did not. Three bills, including some form of a public option, have passed House committees and are being blended into one bill in that chamber.

Reid’s proposal is less than the robust public option that House liberals support, but is considered a nod to liberals in the Senate conference and is closer to the version that is expected to pass the House. That would make it easier for the House and Senate to meld their separate measures into a bill that can be passed and sent to President Obama.

-- Michael Muskal
Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal