As Fifth Freedom reported last month, the latest Senate health care bill includes a public insurance plan that would be run and funded by the government.  Individual states would be able to opt out of the public plan.  However, Senate Democrat leader Senator Harry Reid is growing concerned that the “opt out” public option does not have the 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.  Reid has reportedly asked Senators Tom Carper (D-Del), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to try some new tactics.

Carper has been in extensive talks with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who is in favor of a “trigger” proposal that would create a public plan in individual states if, after a set period of time, there were no affordable private plans available.  While Carper has not officially announced the details of his plan, it is likely to combine the “opt out” idea with the “trigger.”

Sources:

TheHill.com – Reid set to unveil new public option, breaking Senate impasse on healthcare

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/70107-new-public-option-plan

MSN.com – Dems search for public option fix

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/23/2134993.aspx

Filed under: health care reform, News by admin