Baucus says he is "very open to a trigger" if that's what it takes to get 60 votes.

[jefferson_dem]

<SNIP>

Mr. Baucus said he could support a public plan on a so-called trigger — that is, a government health plan that is only a back-up, to be created if the legislation fails to provide affordable health coverage for a sufficient number of Americans. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, a leading negotiator on the health care bill, has proposed such a trigger and Mr. Baucus in the interview said he could support the idea.

“Well, it’s very interesting,” he said. “I am very open to a trigger.”

Mr. Baucus said he had yet to discuss the issue with Ms. Snowe, even though she has proposed it as an amendment to his bill. He said it was still unclear whether she would push the amendment in the Finance Committee or hold it until a bill reaches the Senate floor. “The trigger is out there, and I think it’s very much in the air and the question is, when is it proposed?” Mr. Baucus said. “In what form?”

Pressed to explain what he saw as the potential value of a trigger, Mr. Baucus replied in purely political terms.

“Well, 60 votes,” he said, laughing at his instantaneous, reflexive answer.

“In terms of policy, which is why we are doing all this,” he continued, still chuckling, “it will help keep the insurance industry’s feet to the fire if there is a trigger out there. The same theory as the drug benefit bill back in 2003. There was a trigger there. And I believe that a trigger is a good way to keep our policy objectives – insurance-market reform, competition, to keep costs down. If it’s meaningful, and I’d like a meaningful trigger, that’s going to have a salutary effect. That’s my thought anyway.”

<SNIP>

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/chatting-with-chairman-baucus-over-a-cup-of-buffalo-blend/