Reid to announce public option decision

[sabra]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will announce Monday his plans for the Senate health care bill on Monday afternoon, and multiple Democratic sources tell CNN he will discuss his decision to move forward with a bill that includes a public option, but with a provision allowing states to opt out.

CNN first reported Sunday that Reid was poised to finalize a Senate health care bill as soon as Monday and send it to the Congressional Budget Office so it could begin to determine the bill's cost.

Reid hopes his proposal will appeal to liberal senators who have been insisting on a public option as well as to conservatives who are wary of a government-run plan but could persuaded to support one if states have the authority to opt out.

Several Democratic sources tell CNN that Reid does not yet have firm commitments from 60 senators for this idea, which he would likely need even for a vote to begin Senate debate.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/26/reid-to-announce-public-option-decision/

[county worker]

1. Suppose you live in a red state and you can't afford health insurance.

Your are a staunch repub right winger. Then one of your family members needs medical treatment to stay alive. But your red state Governor opted out of the public option and your family member dies for lack of insurance.

Would you say well it's better that my family member died then to have a government run health care system.

[AlinPA]

3. The stupid assholes probably would. nt

[dnricci]

5. That is the genius of the strategy

Then when the next election rolls around who do you think that staunch republican without healthcare will vote for? Either Republicans get on board or die.

[Soylent Brice]

8. americans dying should not be part of anyone's strategy.

HCR is like making a child eat their vegetables.

repigs may be stubborn fucking children, but they don't deserve to die in order to help us in the next election cycle.

[Fire1]

16. Then they'll ultimately get with the program or else. I think

the poster meant "die," figuratively not literally.

[dnricci]

17. That is exactly what I meant

Thank you for the clarification Fire1

[dnricci]

18. to further clarify

I meant it as the, Republicans will go the way of the Whigs. I do not want anyone to literally die due to lack of affordable healthcare.

[Soylent Brice]

20. i gotcha.

didn't sound that way when i first read it.

all apologies.

[Soylent Brice]

19. thanks for the clarification.

[TomCADem]

6. Dupe

[Zorra]

15. You're referring to people that are so stupid they voted for Bu*h.

Twice.

(banjo plays deliverance theme in background)

"Welp, Merle, Verna's gone. She deserved to die because we couldn't afford to pay for no health insurance. If ya can't pay for insurance, then ya either don't get sick or ya better die quick. And ol' Verna got real sick and had a long slow painful death. But I reckon that's the price of freedom in 'murica. And, hell, you know me, I'll be damned if I'm gonna let the government mess with my Medicare".

[AlinPA]

2. I'm looking for him to foul it up. nt

[TomCADem]

4. The Public Option Is Not A Cure All, But ...

It would definitely help give people options on health care in areas with few competitors, and it would energize the Democratic base, which is what Democrats need going into 2010. I think that even without a public option, there are a lot of things that do need to be reformed.

But, if a public option is not passed, liberals will be hard pressed to provide Democrats in Congress with the grass roots support they need to avoid losing Congress to the Republicans in 2010. I think the anti-public option Democrats are seriously miscalculating if they think that it makes sense to try to appeal to moderates and conservatives by opposing a public option. They won't be impressed by wishy washy health care reform.

[Demeter]

7. Leave it to Harry to Really Mess It Up

and he will, folks, it's his reason for living, his karma, his one talent.

[Graybeard]

9. Reid announcement will be 3:15pm ET.

:popcorn:

[gateley]

10. Opt out is IMO a defeat. The Insurance industry will pay well to

ensure every state opts out.

What have we accomplished?

[skip fox]

11. OPT OUT is too hard to sell. The spin machines that make war heroes into traitors

or that rush us into senseless wars will not be able to explain to people in a state why they can't have more options. I think it's a brilliant move. Those in Ohio will wonder why they can't have the same choices as those in Pennsylvania.

I think the Republican will run from OPT OUT once they realize those opposing Public Option in such circumstances will be politically damaged.

[brooklynite]

13. Ask your Republican Governor, Legislator or State Candidate...

...if they will vote to opt-out or not?

[gateley]

14. I hope you're right and I (as usual) don't know what I'm talking about. nt

[Flaneur]

12. Public option is on, with an opt-out provision for redneck states.