Public Option Gets New Life in Senate

[Pirate Smile]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON -- The idea of creating a government-run health-insurance plan, once on life support in the Senate, is making a recovery among Democrats writing health-care legislation.

So far, no one is talking about a nationwide Medicare-like plan of the sort sought by many liberals, but several variations short of a national plan are being considered.

One would establish a national plan only if other proposals in the Democrat-led health overhaul fail to expand insurance coverage. Another would create a government plan, but allow states to opt out. Still another would allow states to opt in to a government plan, or experiment with their own plans. Prospects are growing that one of these variations -- or a blend of them -- will make it into the final Senate bill.

"This issue is alive, and we're looking at it," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.).
The public plan is among the most contentious issues to be worked out between Senate Democrats and the White House ahead of floor action this fall. President Barack Obama has said he thinks a public plan is the best way to ensure competition in the health-insurance market, while adding that he is open to other ideas.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125599567408695255.html

[bluestateguy]

1. This is like riding a roller coaster that you are not sure is safe

On again, off again, "dead", robust, compromise, triggers, co-ops, opt-outs, Agggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!

[AusDem]

20. haha, that is exactly what I was thinking

i think the news will continue to report speculation until the thing is actually done.

but i suppose you can use either a positive story, or a negative story to rally the troops

[Arkana]

2. FFFFFFFFFFFF

[ShockediSay]

13. If Inscos Promise to Raise Premiums, best reason for a Public

Option, or AT THE VERY LEAST, a hair trigger {3 month?}

Public Option

[DJ13]

3. several variations short of a national plan are being considered

Smoke and mirrors as usual.

[demwing]

4. Mindfuck Alert

[David Zephyr]

9. +1 LOL!

That sums it all up, demwing.

[earcandle]

5. I am telling you its a dog and pony show, wait until all is said and done, then if we don't get it,

fire everyone by replacing them either by recall, or by next
election cycle.
Take names, do not forget who they are.  Do not let anyone
else run without
a signature in their blood that they will vote for universal
health care.

Another alternative is a general strike.

[rrneck]

8. +1 nt

[tblue]

10. Agreed, except don't just wait. Call your Senators! It does make a difference!!!

It wouldn't hurt to warn them that you're open to supporting whoever runs against them in their next campaign.

[No Elephants]

17. I don't think you wait passively, though. I think you keep hounding the WH, your Senators and your

Rep and let them know your intention to PRIMARY anyone who is not working for either single payer or a "robust" public option. Let them know a "robust" public option is the absolute minimum you will accept, not only a bonanza for insurers.

Trouble is, Congress has rigged things to keep incumbents in office and so have the RNC and DNC. And the media, fearing lack of access, has been complicit with them in favoring only the two parties and mostly the incumbents.

And advertising, paid for mostly by K Street, gets them a low of low info voters. So, they do not fear us. They fear only independents.

Still, I cannot sit idly by regarding the most important legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

[Mojambo]

6. That headline is a fucking joke.

Typical of the WSJ.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. That would rock!

But the WSJ is a Murdoch paper. Any actual news sources reporting this?

[WarhammerTwo]

11. The DU Adbot

Um, I don't know how the adbot works and if you all see the same ad I do, but does anyone notice the irony of this thread being about a public run health option and the adbot asking us to sign a petition to STOP government-run health care? I mean, that might not be the ad the rest of you are seeing, but that's what I'm seeing. The folks who paid for that ad have no idea how badly that money is being wasted...

[Vidar]

18. Irony abounds.

[eridani]

12. Any public option that doesn't kick in until 2013 is WORTHLESS, period.

Make the public option voluntary buy-in to Medicare. That is the only incremental plan that could actually work.

[Indenturedebtor]

14. Someone must have figured out another way to scam taxpayer dollars

That is the only reasonable explanation for this new BS talk of a public option.

These sacks of crap never had any intention of doing anything but giving more money to insurance companies.

[optimator]

15. the senate need to take their pajamas off and

just let the adults in the House write this legislation and then those bedwetters can just sign whatever lands on their desk

[droidamus2]

16. we'll see

We'll see but I have a question. Now that the Finance Committee has passed their legislation why is Max Baucus even involved in this anymore? He has done nothing but push his own corporate leaning agenda from day one. Thank him for his work in the Finance Committee and tell him to go back there that the big boys have the full Senate bill taken care of. Another question is (pretty much rhetorical in nature) why does the media keep going to Baucus like he is the leader of the Senate?

[liberal N proud]

19. I am not going to hold my breath

[damntexdem]

21. But so far no one is talking about a PO that would actually do some good.

Among other good things Medicare-for-all would do would be to have possibility of implementation before November 2010.

[donheld]

22. k & R