We have a health care bill in the senate, after eons of delay.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) announced Monday that he will seek to bring a health-care bill to the Senate floor that includes a government insurance plan, a major reversal from just two weeks ago, when Reid was leaning against the idea.
He also called for the bill to include a version of the so-called public option that featured an ‘opt-out’ clause, which would allow states to decide not to participate in the government plan.
‘The best way to move forward is a public option with an opt-out provision,’ Reid told reporters, adding that he ‘fully’ believes that such a bill would have ‘the support of my caucus.’
Every Democrat plus Lieberman must vote for cloture. They don’t have to vote for the bill, but they must vote for cloture or else they should just resign.
Well, this sounds like the best solution we could realistically hope for. I’m not sure how the governor of a state can really spin actively preventing his people from having the option for public health insurance, though.
And that’s the beauty of it. What citizens are going to be pleased about not having the same option as the population in a neighboring state? Good deal.
It’s the ultimate kung fu. Hell, I prefer this to a straight public option. Let the conservatives vote against this on a state by state level and impale themselves on the public support for this bill.
My only worry is what happens when I cross state lines in to a state without the public option. Am I suddenly uncovered?
Yes. And that’s my problem with opt-out.
Well that, and the people who won’t even get the chance to be covered because enough other folks in their state decide they don’t deserve health care.
Cons call being a corporate whore “being prinicpled”
Great news. If a Dem majority can’t actually act like Democrats I was ready to hang up my hat.
So Oliver, has the day come when we actually have to give Reid some credit?
Let’s let the ticker tape parade wait until we’ve got something on the president’s desk.
“Every Democrat plus Lieberman must vote for cloture.”
Lieberman is going to be a problem.
I put more faith in Snowe voting for a public option at this point than Leiberman but I’ll give him a chance on this one. Come on Leiberman, surprise me!
It doesn’t look like he is going to. Goddamn, this man pisses me off…
It wouldn’t surprise me he doesn’t because he is McCain’s left nut…..oops I meant….no I said it right the first time.