The public option, a favorite of Democratic leaders and liberals, will not be part of any health care legislation Congress is expected to consider this month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., buried the idea of a government-run health plan at her weekly press conference.
"We had it; we wanted it," she said, recalling how the House included the public option in the health care bill it passed Nov. 7.
But it's not part of the compromise bill now being crafted by Democratic leaders. "We're talking about something that's not going to be part of the legislation," she said.
The plan was not in the bill passed by the Senate Dec. 24, but a sizeable number of Democrats, notably Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said they were ready to push for the public option if the House once again approved it. House leaders are hoping for votes on health care bills next week.
But, Pelosi said, forget the public option.
"I'm quite sad that a public option isn't in there." Pelosi said, adding, "It's not in there because they don't have the votes to have it in there."
Another bait and switch,We have much work to do to weed out our "reps" that keep moving the goalposts. They cleverly hide their identities by not allowing an up and down vote on the public option .The biggest hurt;Obama misled us,he campaigned on the PUBLIC OPTION but sold his soul or lied.I fear for our democracy when money buys almost everything.
Posted by: paul dambrosi | March 13, 2010 at 12:36 AM
I want all to be covered and am willing to pay taxes to accomplish that goal. BUT.Why isn`t an unsubsidized Public Option "politically feasable" ?? What are the policy arguments against it? It polls at 60% (10% UND) yet backroom lobby money still prevents its`legislative inclusion . Until the people rise and demand an up and down vote to expose the deal makers we will be subjected to "health reform" that forces us into a greed driven unethical,immoral and inefficient system.Also the sanctimonious deficit hawks must be forced to revoke the "Billy Tauzin DEALS" and save our treasury 1/2 $$ TRILLION !!
Posted by: paul dambrosi | March 13, 2010 at 12:24 AM
What the heck does Nancy Pelosi have against the Public Option ??? She threw it out at the beginning and will still not consider it. Who .. or what .. is behind her determined effort to thwart the wishes of a majority of the public ?? Did I miss something .. or did someone appoint her "the decider" (odors from the past). I think we need new leadership in Congress .. both she and Reid need to go back to their roots and get in touch with the citizens again. If she is paid to represent the voters .. she is grossly overpaid !! Something needs to be done about that, too.
Posted by: Helen Snyder | March 12, 2010 at 08:49 PM