Goodbye public option? - Senate panel shoots down one amendment
One of the biggest flash-points of the health care debate has been the so-called "public option" - a government-run alternative to insurance companies. Most conservatives have said they absolutely can't support it and many liberals have said they absolutely can't support a bill without it. Well today the public option took a blow in the Senate Finance Committee as an amendment to add it to the present draft of the bill in the Senate was voted down 15 to 8. The vote against included 5 Democrats, including Sen. Max Baucus (D. - MT) who heads up the committee. He said he voted against the amendment because he feared it would keep the bill from getting the 60 votes its needs on the Senate floor.
There is a second amendment including the public option introduced by Sen. Chuck Schumer out of NY who vows to get it in there no matter what.
Will the public option kill health care reform? Moderate Senate Democrats are certainly trying their darnedest not to let it. But there's another danger for them: if they pass a bill without a public option, will liberals in the Democratic Party count that as actual reform? What do you think - Comment over here on Current News.
Also on health care:
- Your Health Care Stories - From the Current News Blog
- No Healthcare For Me (Video)
There is a second amendment including the public option introduced by Sen. Chuck Schumer out of NY who vows to get it in there no matter what.
Will the public option kill health care reform? Moderate Senate Democrats are certainly trying their darnedest not to let it. But there's another danger for them: if they pass a bill without a public option, will liberals in the Democratic Party count that as actual reform? What do you think - Comment over here on Current News.
Also on health care:
- Your Health Care Stories - From the Current News Blog
- No Healthcare For Me (Video)
