Another Blow To Public Option: Durbin Open To Dropping It

One of Barack Obama's chief allies in the United States Senate hinted on Sunday that a public insurance option could go by the wayside as Congress hammers out its health care legislation.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the chamber's foremost progressives, said that while he supported a government-run option for insurance, he was "open" to alternatives.

"Just understand that, after we pass this bill -- and I hope we do -- in the Senate, it will go to conference committee," said Durbin. "We'll have a chance to work out all of our differences."

"So we'll see how this ends, but I don't want the process to be filibustered to failure, which unfortunately, many senators are trying to do," Durbin added. "I want to make sure that we do something positive for the American people."

The comments are similar to the line coming from the White House in recent days, with officials indicating that they would be open to a co-op based insurance model, provided that it had enough leverage to lower costs for consumers. (In this plan, non-profit cooperatives would get a charter from the government to take premiums from members and cover claims, expanding the risk pool for individuals buying insurance). Indeed, for Durbin to make the remarks he did on CNN is a strong indication that the party -- from Obama on down -- sees the public option as a likely victim in an effort to get 60 votes for health care's passage in the Senate.

However, not everyone is willing to concede that 60 votes are needed. On ABC's "This Week," former Vermont Governor and DNC Chair Howard Dean said that Democrats should be comfortable using reconciliation (which would require 51 votes) in order to get legislation -- including a public option -- through the Senate.

In an effort at bridging divides within the Democratic Party, Dean also complimented the more conservative Blue Dog members for forcing changes to the legislation that freed up small businesses from burdensome health care costs.

"This bill is terrific for a small business," said Dean. "The Blue Dogs made it a better bill, and I hope by the time gets through, it gets even better. Right now in the House bill... if you're a small business with a payroll of less than $500,000, you have no responsibility whatsoever to give your employees health insurance. That now becomes a subsidy based on your income. And then you can choose either the private or public sector. This is choice. This is real choice."

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Comments

[Fremon]

12:43 PM on 09/03/2009

NO NO NO! PUBLIC OPTION IS IMPERATIVE AND A MAJOR REASON THAT THE DEMOS WON LARGE MAJORITIES. ANYTHING ELSE IS A COP OUT. THE ONLY TRUE REFORM IN HEALTHCARE IS A PUBLIC OPTION. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CANNOT, AND I MEAN CANNOT, BE TRUSTED ON HEALTHCARE REGARDLESS OF AGREEMENTS THAT WOULD BE MADE WITH THEM TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM.

[waitforme]

05:50 PM on 08/14/2009

No senator should vote for any health care bill which lacks a firm public option. If obama signs such a bill, we will not think he "passed health care reform" no matter how loudly he touts it. All senators who have accepted millions of dollars from the health insurance/pharma industrial vomplex should have anything to do with crafting a health care for us. Baucus and grassley and others like them should resign.

[kbkw54]

07:44 PM on 08/11/2009

Senator Durbin, Dem. from Chicago won't support public option.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/09/another-blow-to-public-op_n_254961.html

[Michaelvin]

12:03 PM on 08/11/2009

People with pre-existing illnesses can't get health coverage. Most of them didn't carry health insurance when they were healthy, but now want insurance because they have a serious illness, and we're suposed to subsidize their rates. We're required to carry liability insurance for our cars, but we don't add collision or theft after the car has been wrecked or stolen. It would be nice if we could, but somebody's got to pay. There are over 10 million people who earn above $75k who choose not to buy health insurance. Are we supposed to now subsidize them? How about the twenty something who won't likely begin to use insurance for at least 10 years? Many take the gamble and go without. I didn't have health insurance in my 20's. I gambled, I won.

Politicians wont discuss allowing us to buy health care insurance across state lines. Pennsylvania is half the price of New York. Competition is what we need. My nephew is 25 and he bought care for over $8,000 a year. He had about five or six providers to choose from. We have over 1,300 health care providers. If he had that many providers to choose from he would probably be paying no more than $1,500 a year. We complain about the profits insurance companies make off us. Opening up insurance across state lines is the best way to lower our costs, and they will still make plenty of money. Why is that a taboo topic?

[ruthefords]

11:24 PM on 08/10/2009

And here I pictured them taking on the Money Changers and bringing real CHANGE in these terrible times, and a real healthcare solution that would include everyone.
That can ONLY be done with a Public Option. Only if you take the profit incentive out, will costs go down and the system not continue to feed off the sick. Anything else in my opinion - and especially not even allowing the option at all, which people could willingly turn down- will be a sellout and worthless.

The Dems and Obama may fail us, but we the people don't have to fail ourselves. Its time to be heard! do something folks, write someone, protest before its too late.
Come on America, are we down for the count already !????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PtvLTZS4Ik

[unclejeff]

10:56 PM on 08/10/2009

Altogether now, everybody sing:

"ONE NATION.........UNDER GOD.............WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR CORPORATE LOBBYISTS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY MOGULS.............."

sorry folks, it looks like final score in the Healthcare Showdown of the Century is most likely going to be Big Money --->10, The American People: --->0.

Goodbye Public Option!

.

[LeftLeaner]

08:07 PM on 08/10/2009

Bye, Bye, single-payer public option.

It was dead before it ever breathed life.

So, Mr. President, what will be your legacy.

[proudprogressive]

04:33 PM on 08/10/2009

Okay, Illinois, it's time Senator Durbin heard from us:
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

[blackberet]

05:49 PM on 08/10/2009

I'm from Illinois, and I just wrote him a nasty but civil letter expressing my want of a public option. Told him in so many words to grow a pair, and to stop letting the party of NO obstruct health care reform with the public option.

[daltex52]

04:32 PM on 08/10/2009

We need a public option, and we need it now. These wimpy Democrats are making me angry. They need to grow some spines and stand up for what is right!

[DonBlv]

04:06 PM on 08/10/2009

The Dems and American people need to fight for the public option now, along w/ HC reform or this opportunity will not avail itself until the next time the country is on the brink of ruin. Only the next time it may be due to HC costs bankrupting businesses/economy and only a elite few can afford it; assisted by a financial collapse fueled by greed and poor oversight.

[TheIndependenceParty]

02:31 PM on 08/10/2009

The Democratic Party controls the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, ... if Health Care Reform goes akilter in this session, it is on their heads. Sorry Ladies and gentlemen, but power is only power when you put it to work, and it appears you do not know how.

The even more ridiculous thing is that you have been cowed into it by the Republicans and the Blue Dogs, ... the most pathetic pairing of American politics imaginable.

Big Pharma can advertise to their hearts' content, but this health care reform process appears to be stillborn to me. Sad, ... for it would have made America more productive, more economically sound, and a true participant in the developed world. Asit stands we will have what we already have, ... which is truly pathetic!

[Teutonicus]

04:07 PM on 08/10/2009

you are 100% right. If the Democrats cannot (or don't know how to) use their majority in both houses they do not deserve to be in power!

[LCLA]

10:39 PM on 08/10/2009

I agree with your frustration, but not with your suggestion that we turn the reins back over to the folks who drove us into this ditch!
Democrats do not speak with one voice. There is room for all in our party. It is our strength, and it is our greatest weakness.

[AbstractImp]

02:00 PM on 08/10/2009

Hey Durbin -
Are you open to dropping your government opton?

[scorpioleidy]

01:47 PM on 08/10/2009

Hope you've enjoyed your time in the Senate, Mr. Durbin. You will NOT be getting my vote in the next election!

[vetseabee]

03:01 PM on 08/10/2009

I'm with you scorpiolady,DICK Durbin has been around too long and he's got to go.No BACKBONEWhile we're at it we should also vote out anyone who has been in congress for more than two terms.I'm don't believe in term limits but I do believe we as Americans must be better informed as to how our elected officials vote and watch them very very carefully because they have proven time and time again that they do not truly represent their constituents but are only interested in getting reelected.

[LucieLee]

01:21 PM on 08/10/2009

Sen. Durbin is just a" fair-weather friend" when it comes to the health care debate. If he thinks that people will be satisfied just passing any health reform legislation no matter how weak, watered-down and bankrupted it is , he needs to seriously rethink his position, and stop being so weak-kneed!!

[jmpurser]

02:15 PM on 08/10/2009

I've got news for you: Obama is betting on that too. The "public option" is just the shiny wrapping on a massive corporate welfare bill.

[Project4NuBostonTeaParty]

04:01 PM on 08/10/2009

Exactly. The White House better make sure there's enough empty jail cells for all the Americans (like me) who will REFUSE to buy into a taxpayer-subsidized, ever-more-corrupt system.

Mandatory coverage = forced extortion of the public by Big Insurance/Big Pharma.

In the words of the hapless GHWBush: Not guhna du-it.

[ladyblug]

12:51 PM on 08/10/2009

Anything less than HR676 is a watered downed gift to big pharma, and insurance industry.

[jmpurser]

01:43 PM on 08/10/2009

Agreed.

[spinns17]

01:57 PM on 08/10/2009

thats all were getting is water down stuff.they better grow a pair.