Public Option News

Jacob Hacker Supports Health Care Bill

2:10 pm EST December 20th, 2009 | News | 8 Comments

Hacker was one of the big thinkers behind the idea of the public option

As weak as it is in numerous areas, the Senate bill contains three vital reforms. First, it creates a new framework, the ‘exchange,’ through which people who lack secure workplace coverage can obtain the same kind of group health insurance that workers in large companies take for granted. Second, it makes available hundreds of billions in federal help to allow people to buy coverage through the exchanges and through an expanded Medicaid program. Third, it places new regulations on private insurers that, if properly enforced, will reduce insurers’ ability to discriminate against the sick and to undermine the health security of Americans.

These are signal achievements, and they all would have been politically unthinkable just a few years ago.

Topic: Health Care, Jacob Hacker, Public Option

Report: Public Option Dropped In U.S. Senate

8:14 pm EST December 8th, 2009 | News | 24 Comments

The public health option has been dropped in Senate negotiations after conservatives like Joe Lieberman promised to block any health care reform if the public option was included.

9:21pm Some reports now have Harry Reid saying the public option isn’t dead. We’ll see.

8:43pm Jeffrey Young of The Hill reports:

Reid summarized: “We have a deal!” What is it? “Not telling!”

Democratic senators say they have a tentative deal to drop a government-run insurance option from health care legislation. No further details were immediately available.

This feels like it was inevitable. You’ve got blockage from Lieberman and possibly other conservadems, plus unless something passes now it won’t ever pass (next year is an election year).

Seems like the trade is an expansion of Medicare instead of a public option….

Wonkroom:

Tom Harkin told reporters he didn’t like the agreement but would support it to the hilt in an attempt to pass healthcare legislation.

Topic: Health Care, Public Option, U.S. Senate

Trigger?

11:42 pm EST November 27th, 2009 | News | 30 Comments

A new report says that a triggered public option is superior to the current, more watered down provisions. A trigger would probably pass the senate, though fricking Lieberman says he’ll block any public option (seriously, WTF up with the senate allowing one senator to derail crap?). Personally I have been concerned that if something wasn’t passed in the Senate before Thanksgiving we might not get anything, and I am dead certain if it isn’t passed this calendar year it will be dead.

The fate of this entire thing is on Harry Reid. There are 60 votes in the Democratic caucus. There should be 60 votes for cloture, and at least 51 for passage. It’s on Harry Reid.

Topic: Democratic Senate, Harry Reid, Health Care, Public Option

51% Support Public Option Over “Bipartisan” Mush In ABC Poll

5:23 pm EST October 30th, 2009 | News | 9 Comments

Act now

“Which of these would you prefer – (a plan that includes some form of government-sponsored health insurance for people who can’t get affordable private insurance, but is approved without support from Republicans in Congress); or (a plan that is approved with support from Republicans in Congress, but does not include any form of government-sponsored health insurance for people who can’t get affordable private insurance)?”

Fifty one percent said they preferred the public option; 37 percent said they preferred a bill with some support from Republicans in Congress. Six percent said neither and seven percent expressed no opinion.

Topic: Health Care, Public Option

Hey Evan Bayh, Indiana Backs The Public Option

8:09 pm EST October 29th, 2009 | News | 17 Comments

Listen to the people.

In a Research 2000 poll conducted last weekend, 52 percent of Indiana residents said they favored the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan like Medicare. Another 42 percent opposed the idea.

Topic: Health Care, Public Option