Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that he will include a public insurance plan in the final Senate health overhaul legislation.
The Washington Post: "Reid's decision was a reversal from two weeks ago, when the Nevada Democrat appeared inclined to set aside the idea -- among the most divisive in the reform debate -- in an attempt to avoid alienating party moderates." It remains to be seen if Reid has the votes to pass the bill in the Senate with the public option.
"The Senate provision would give states the right to opt out of a government plan, though Reid spokesman Jim Manley was unable to provide further details, describing the legislative language as a work in progress that has yet to be scrutinized by the Congressional Budget Office." The inclusion of the public option will likely mean Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who voted with Democrats during the Finance Committee's consideration of a reform plan, will not support the bill, The Post reports. She prefers a "trigger" option that would allow a public option only if insurers fail to rein in costs (Murray and Montgomery, 10/27).