Health Care Update Oct. 27
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced at a press conference yesterday that the Senate bill that goes to the floor for a vote will include a public option, along with an “opt-out” provision for states that do not want to participate. However, if Reid is unable to get the 60 votes needed to move forward, an alternative plan may be offered that relies on a trigger mechanism for the public option to go into effect. The bill will also include the private health cooperatives plan from the Senate Finance Committee’s bill.
This is a big breakthrough for proponents of the public option. Several weeks ago, political pundits were saying that a health care plan with the public option would not be offered in the Senate. The House will soon vote on a health care bill that also contains a public option.
