'Public Option' Draws Battle Lines on Capitol Hill

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'Public Option' Draws Battle Lines on Capitol Hill

Story Created: Oct 27, 2009 at 4:35 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 27, 2009 at 4:35 PM CST

(EYE ON AMERICA) That public health insurance option is drawing battle lines on Capitol Hill.

Senator Harry Reid, (D) Nevada, said, "I believe that a public option can achieve a goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system."

A public health insurance plan is once again an option in the latest version of a Senate reform bill, set to hit the floor next week. Under this plan, states could decide to choose the public option or not. It's something liberal Democrats and the White House have been pushing for.

It will protect consumers, keep consumers honest, ensure competition. But it's a change from another Senate proposal which garnered a sole Republican vote, from moderate Olympia Snowe. She only got on board, in the last vote, because there was not a public option in the plan. It's an idea conservatives oppose and now her support doesn't seem likely.

Senator Olympia Snowe, (R) Maine, said, "It's unfortunate the senate majority leader decided to take a different path because he did say it was a pretty good doggone idea with respect to the trigger in september so i don't what has happened to change his mind."

Senator Snowe and more conservative Democrats favor a trigger to kick in a public option, only if insurance companies fail to comply with reform. In the other chamber, house Democrats are applauding the proposal as beneficial to the public.

Nancy Pelosi, (D) House Speaker, said, "We are not throwing them to the wolves of the insurance industry without an option for them to choose."

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