No Decision Yet On House Public Option

by: Chris Bowers

Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 13:33

House Leaders Ready to Unveil Moderate-Favored Health Plan

By Tory Newmyer
Roll Call Staff
Oct. 28, 2009, 12 a.m.

House Democratic leaders are preparing to unveil a health care overhaul including a version of the public insurance option favored by moderates that would allow the federal government to negotiate rates with doctors and hospitals, top Democratic aides said.

This is simply wrong. No decision has been made yet. A decision is close, but it has not been made.

The leadership is meeting at 2:45 p.m. today to review the count. If, before that time, we can demonstrate that the "robust" Medicare +5% public option is not the dealbreaker for 218 members who are currently not in firm opposition to the overall bill, then we still have a chance of the robust public option being included in the overall bill. It is a longshot, but it is possible.

Right now, behind the scenes, we are engaging in a last-ditch whip count effort to get the votes for the Medicare +5% public option. To do this, I need volunteers who can spend the next hour making media calls to a couple dozen members of Congress. If you can help out in this effort, please email me at Christopher_j_bowers@yahoo.com.