Public Option Vote Could Pit Democrat Vs. Democrat

Scroll down to the bottom for updates from the hearing. Follow live coverage of the hearing here.

WASHINGTON � It'll be Democrat vs. Democrat as lawmakers go back to work on health care Tuesday.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to consider whether the government should offer its own insurance plan for the middle class in competition with private carriers. As reporter Jill Lawrence puts it in Politics Daily, "The debate over whether to create a public insurance plan to compete with private plans is about to explode in the Senate Finance Committee. The stakes are high and so is the suspense."

The panel has 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans. Anything less than a solid wall of Republican opposition to all three proposals would be shocking. On top of that, several Democrats have reservations about some or all of the proposals.

By my count, there are nine Democrats in favor of or open to at least one of the three public options. Two favor Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe's proposal for state-level public options to be "triggered" if competition in a state falls short. Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is a mystery. If she ultimately supports some type of public option, that would make committee chairman Max Baucus the deciding vote. He says he supports a public option but that it couldn't win on the floor.

Although the public plan isn't expected to get a majority of the panel, supporters say at least they'll know where everybody stands.

Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., is already in the hot seat -- accused of being lukewarm, if not downright hostile, to the government option.

Two liberal groups are launching a hard-hitting television and Internet ad featuring a young father from Montana. Bing Perrine, 26, in need of a heart operation, uninsured and deeply in debt, looks straight into the camera and asks Baucus, "Whose side are you on?"

The ad is sponsored by Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, who say Baucus is too cozy with insurance and health care interests that have contributed to his campaigns and oppose the public option.

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Baucus aide Tyler Matsdorf said the ad falsely implies that Baucus doesn't care about the plight of people with pre-existing health problems. It's just that Baucus would address such problems in a different way from what the liberals want, Matsdorf said. For example, his plan calls for nonprofit co-ops to compete with the insurance industry independently of the government. Insurers also oppose co-ops.

Senators will have at least two Democratic alternatives to choose from � and maybe a compromise from a moderate Republican who is keeping all her options open.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is proposing a public plan modeled on Medicare, in which the government would set what it pays doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is proposing a government plan that looks more like a private insurance company and negotiates payment rates with providers.

"Win or lose, it's clear that the strong public interest and support for a public option will be well represented by the supportive senators," said Gerald Shea, a top health care policy expert for the AFL-CIO. "My sense is that our message about how vital the public plan is to the critically important issue of cost control is beginning to break through the bubble that has surrounded Finance for months."

The wild card in the debate is Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. Aides say she's considering offering a compromise that would use the public option as a threat, to be deployed only if private insurers fail to keep premiums in check after a reasonable period of time.

If there's a final bill this year, it's possible that Snowe's idea will be the one to carry the day.

* * * * UPDATES * * * *

AP has a brief report on some early remarks from the hearing:

Democrats sought to give government the right to sell insurance in competition with private industry Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee opened a second week of debate over massive health care legislation.

"We need this option because the insurance companies have failed to meet their obligation" to the public, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., accusing firms of putting profits over their customers.

He said that without his proposal, consumers would face substantial premium increases once health care legislation takes effect.

Republicans countered that private companies would eventually be forced out of business, and argued that millions would be forced to get their insurance from the government.

"Washington is not the answer," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

___

On the Net:

Senate Finance Committee: http://finance.senate.gov/

Comments

[Nico Pitney - Huffpost Blogger]

Testing

[GUSTOV]

when this is over

and there is !!!!! NO PUBLIC OPTION !!!!!!!

I will hate democrats more than republicans

[stjam8]

PUBLIC CITIZEN has an on line petition to the Congressional Budget Office to immediately evaluate H R 676 along with other reform proposals. It is essential to compare the cost of Single Payer with other health care reform proposals being considered. Demand C.B.O. scoring for Single payer and include Single Payer in all discussions about Health care reform. Publlc Citizen and The Sept.3 issue of Rolling Stone "Sick and Wrong" both make the case for Single Payer. There is 1300 private insurers, forcing doctors to fill out different forms and different reimbursement procedures for each and everyone. This drowns medical facilities in idotic paper work and jacks up prices. Nearly a third of all health care costs are associated with wasteful administration, fully $350 billion dollars could be saved on paper work alone, if the U.S. went to Single Payer. Public Option does not reduce the $350 billion on paper work. Dennis Kucinich co-authored a bill with Congressman John Conyers. The Bill H R 676 would expand Medicare to all. The Center for Responsive Politics has a list of blue dogs and republicans who have received money from the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. So is your Elected official on the list? Remind them, the President won with a majority and a mandate of Universal health.

[wdw505]

676 covers illegals

[research]

You are lying.

Find the line that covers illegals.

http://www.pnhp.org/nhibill/nhi_bill_final.pdf

You are upset that it does not check legal status, that is not thier job.

You would rather that our workers illegally hired by our plutocrats, go to the Hospital where they must be treated.

[Kevins]

Help pay for the ads
to make Baucus and Snowe accountable for their actions.

http://www.actblue.com/page/baucuspublicoption?refcode=hccw_baucus-dfakick

When they deny health care options, they kill people.
Make them face their responsibility.

[Hopeforu]

Et tu Baucus!!!!!!

[Billl]

To fix health care for consumers, employers and taxpayers the President and legislators must allow the use of what President Obama has called “government’s unfair advantages”, to be used to pay for, (using a sales tax), and deliver, (through VA style government hospitals), high quality lower cost health care than private industry can ever attain, as part of the reform solution.

Two choices should be offered to everyone to use either; free public care, sales tax funded, from a new national health system, no insurance, no co pays, free period, or alternatively to use privately purchased private care.

Employers who select public care for their employees would not be required to pay for or have any further involvement with health care.

Private unlimited choices could be purchased, and always free public care would be available.

[Stephen Wahls]

What I keep asking myself is what has caused health care costs to raise so much or have they? Everyone says they have. I remember back in the seventies health care was expensive then too. Back then if you got cancer you died. So what's that worth? Being able to live to talk about it. My cousin got leukemia she was 10 she died. Our family would have come up with a million dollars out of pocket to save her but the money didn't help. Shoot, we would have considered it a deal. Today we have the medicine but spend our money on text messaging, blogging, internet and cable TV maybe we should spend a little on insurance so when we need it we don't die. We, as a society just live life in the fast lane, everything, all the time. Maybe we need to slow down and make some choices and learn to live with them.

[armyvet]

The public option has not been defeated. This was expected from the Finance Committee. When the proposal leaves this committee, it will be combined with other proposals, which contains a public option.

When the proposal reaches the President's desk, it will contain the public option.

There is NO health care bill until it is signed by the President!

The MSM is at it again, spinning misinformation

[chlai88]

"Washington is not the answer," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Of course, you're the problem & why are you still there ?

[Dacktyl]

"Public Option Vote Could Pit Democrat Vs. Democrat" Tell me about it! I have a website called

http://RepublicanDirtyTricks.com

...and the irony that I have to constantly report about betrayals by Democrats after we worked to hard to give them the majorities they cried that they needed does not escape me!

Call these treacherous DINO's and tell them that we won't forget their betrayal! I have a list of their numbers and emails on my site.

[JMTII]

I am so frustrated with the Senate and the Democrats in general - this time we cannot blame republicans for the failure - the Senate Democrats own it. As a frustrated Liberal where do I go and how do i exercise my anger - where is our march/our public outrage? I have written I have called there has to be a more effective way to show our anger and disapointment.

best regards,

Joe

[Dacktyl]

I am as frustrated as you - I call, write ... Hell, I even have a website - a march would be great - I am all for a general strike too -

but most people are too busy trying to keep their heads above water to chase the illusion that once was the "American Dream" that they are exhausted and defeated -

that was by design too. Reaganomics destroyed the middle class and many Dems still drink that Kool-Aid. I am thinking it may be time to back the Green Party or something. Voting with big moneyed interests is expected from Repugs, but when the Dems do it, it is a true betrayal. I miss Ted Kennedy already. We have no unapologetic liberals who fight for the people - just corporatist Repugs in Dems clothing who stab us in the back while enriching themselves with corporate bribes.

They have turned this government of "We The People" into the United States of Serfs and Lords.

We are nothing but the hosts for parasitic corporations to suck profit from - there is no humanity - just unabashed greed.

[Alabama John]

“Butcher Medicine Bailout ---- Circus Side-show Extravaganza.”

ACT ONE

Obama:
Does everyone have their script? The debate over Public Option starts today, is everyone rehearsed and ready to go?

Joe Wilson:
Maybe my yelling out, “You lie” was overdone. Being down so low in the polls now, anyway why do I have to play the heavy?

Obama:
Have no fear, lobbyists will have an executive opening for you in industry. But you may not lose your election, for I’m set to take all the heat for the bailout trillions as both the defense and medical industries want Republicans running the White House and Congress next term. Much privatizing of government coming up.

Olympia Snowe:
Most all my voters back home are conservative, the part your asking me to play is going to cost my much support.

Obama:
Read the final act. You sign on to the Public Option just before the last vote in the Senate, by then we will have it most conservative in effect and a dozen Republicans have been ordered by the lobbyists to also vote in favor of it.

Max Baucus:
Yes, and we have many heated debates planned out, much burning of the voters emotions to blind their minds.

[susiesorority]

Congress re-arranges deck chairs as our Titanic ship of state sinks. Good luck affording health care in 5 years--if you have a job, that is.

[1mickey1]

If the Democrats screw this up, after all the weeks I worked to get them elected and the money I gave them (more than I ever donated) - well, they are on their own as far as I'm concerned. Don't come knockin' at my door to volunteer or make a contribution in the future. If you can't come up with REAL reform that people have wanted and needed for years, I don't care if you lose in the next election!

[bobm0001]

The blue dogs should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, it's hard to feel shame with millions of dollars in your pockets.

[Alabama John]

Bless their darling hearts, such a grand performance of the Paid Actors Congressional Theater Guild, as curtain goes up on act one of,

“Butcher Medicine Bailout ---- Circus Side-show Extravaganza.”

Surely a Tony Award must go to Baucus the back-stabber, as best supporting actor for his star performance as no-change Obama’s favorite lap dog.