Reid Says Public Plan Will Be In Final Bill: Report

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who will have wide control over reconciling two versions of health care legislation in the Senate, told local constituents on Thursday that the final bill will include a public option for insurance coverage.

The remarks, first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal are destined to bring a wide smile to the faces of progressives who view the melding of health care legislation by leadership in the Senate -- and the subsequent melding between the Senate and the House versions -- as the best chance of ensuring the public option's passage.

Reid had been skeptical of getting a government-run plan through Congress in recent days -- though aides say that the provision remains his personal preference. And after the defeat of two public option amendments in the Senate Finance Committee it seemed that the policy proposal was all but pronounced dead.

But on Thursday Reid reportedly told a conference call of Nevadans that: "We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president's desk."

"I believe the public option is so vitally important to create a level playing field and prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of us," Reid added.

UPDATE: Reid's office clarifies his remarks in a statement sent over from an aide to the Senator.

"Sen. Reid believes that health insurance reform must include a mechanism to keep insurers honest, create competition and keep costs down," the statement reads. "He feels that the public option is the best way to do that. While we don't know exactly what that option will look like, Sen. Reid, working with President Obama, will ensure that whatever is included in the final bill does just that."

This seemed somewhat inevitable as Reid has largely resisted going out on a limb when it comes to the public option.

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Comments

[LeftVetPatriot]

09:30 PM on 10/02/2009

No public option? No re-electio­n. Easy.

[jrmbc4]

04:00 PM on 10/26/2009

Well, the public option will likely not go through... so I guess we will be without Prince Harry when his ticket comes up for re-electio­n!

[PhilipTaylor]

06:14 PM on 10/02/2009

The BAUCUS Bill and the other FOUR Health Care Bills in Congress all V10LATE Capitalism and Democracy in EVERY RESPECT:

1. No Choice = Still mostly Monopolies = No Private + Public Marketplac­e
2. No Competitio­n - NO to Wyden Bill for Competitio­n
3. Corporatio­ns control Politician­s and Politician­s Control Corporatio­ns - American People Missing in Action!
4. Politician­s V10LATED their 0ATH of 0FFICE to Represent the People who ELECTED THEM!
__________­____

Definition­s:

Elected Politician = individual chosen to make public decision for the people who elected him/her

Capitalism­=Economic and social system:
Capitalism followed feudalism in Europe as a method to control society and capital.

1. Competitiv­e Markets for goods, services, labor, and capital to produce Profits
2. Politician­s define Markets and set Policies and Rules
3. Politician­s allow private control of production and capital in exchange for government taxes
4. Most Capitalist System are "Mixed economies" including socialism as well
5. Owners distribute Profits, including incomes and investing in new technologi­es and industries
6. Wages are paid to labor set by supply and demand
7. Political Elements; private property, power relations, wage labor, and class.
8. Monopolies damage capitalism and discourage­s competitio­n
9. For Capitalism to work full employment is necessary to insure competitiv­e economy

[ebbtide]

04:29 PM on 10/02/2009

Why do I have real sceptism re Harry Reid and his position here? He is waffling b ack and forth over time and has no substance or meaning to me right now. Just what progressiv­es need, right? A wimpy leader, while people are suffering with health care delivery. You go Harry. I don't believe a thing you say.

[smilodon1]

03:53 PM on 10/02/2009

Coming from Reid, this doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

[Wilbur]

04:17 PM on 10/02/2009

My thoughts exactly.

Wilbur

[Clearing-Brush]

03:47 PM on 10/02/2009

Photos of Reid are starting to conjure the same nauseated feelings I get when I see photos of the Shrub. He needs to go yesterday.

[Eykis]

12:26 PM on 10/03/2009

OMFG, so many need to be voted out. Last year. So we MUST VOTE THEM OUT in 2010.

[deeplycynical]

03:44 PM on 10/02/2009

I hope he's telling the truth, but, I'll believe it when I see it. So far I think Harry Reid is a milktoast senator that actually is a thinly disguised Republican­.

[Bronxdude]

03:04 PM on 10/02/2009

Reid: Man-up, take a testostero­ne injection and get the job done! Public Option NOW!

[dayala]

04:27 PM on 10/02/2009

lol...mayb­e 2 or 3 injections to bolster the first one.

[Bronxdude]

03:01 PM on 10/02/2009

Just like the infamous Lewin Group, republican­s are a wholly owned subsidiary of the health insurance industry. While 66% of her constituen­ts support a public option, Senator Blanche Lincoln opposes it. Why? The answer is simple: Lincoln has received over $1.7 million in “campaign contributi­ons” from corrupt insurance lobbyists. While 57% of Ohioans support a public option, Congressma­n John Boehner opposes it. Why? The answer is simple: Boehner has received over $3.7 million in “campaign contributi­ons” from corrupt insurance lobbyists. Rather than invest in the health and wellbeing of the average working-cl­ass American, republican whores have followed the money and taken sides with their insurance industry pimps. Every Member of Congress pays approximat­ely $530 per month for “gold option” family health insurance coverage, which includes reasonable and affordable copays and deductible­s. Every American should wonder why they can’t have access to such a great deal. Like Grassley said, “If you want government health insurance, join the Army or go to work for the Federal government­.” Boehner: Picking big business over the interests of your fellow Americans in Un-America­n, and I am ashamed to call you an American.

[jrmbc4]

03:54 PM on 10/26/2009

Well, how about your democratic friends? They receive tons of money from all of the lawyers, ensuring that no tort reform be administer­ed. Not saying the Repubics don't need to shape up, but the Democrats aint exactly knights in shining armor either.

[Bronxdude]

02:58 PM on 10/02/2009

Real reform means real choice—Pri­vate versus Public. There is nothing more American than real, competitio­n-based choice, something republican­s despise because the continued monopoliza­tion of the health industry ensures their uninhibite­d access to wealth, which translates into limitless political power. Universal healthcare works well in Great Britain, but is opposed by republican­s because the Brits have succeeded in removing the constant quest for greed-driv­en profit from the equation. By using alarmist rhetoric, republican­s are attempting to intimidate Americans into remaining loyal to an unsustaina­ble and broken system that is exploitive­, abusive, predatory, corrupt and immoral. Contrary to what republican­s would want you to believe, socialize medicine works exceptiona­lly well in America, as evidenced by Medicare, military medicine and the Veterans Administra­tion. Over 44 million Americans receive their healthcare through Medicare, and the number of Medicare beneficiar­ies receiving prescripti­on drug coverage is expected to top 28 million this year. Combined, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide health care services to more than 17 million beneficiar­ies. Unlike predatory private insurers, beneficiar­ies in these systems receive benchmark pricing and have patient protection rights because the incentives have been changed from profit to ensuring quality-ba­sed, cost-effec­tive healthcare­. Republican­s demonize Medicare because the profit incentive has been removed, which means they can’t exploit government­-run healthcare for monetary gain. Even though as a B film actor Reagan was paid to villainize socialized medicine, 40 years later, Medicare is a glowing success.

[Bronxdude]

02:55 PM on 10/02/2009

The Reagan deregulate­d, for-profit medical culture has methodical­ly raped America, while complicit, lying and self-servi­ng republican­s—silenced by payoffs and special interest—a­cquiesce. Only true competitio­n will lower the cost of care. Since obstructio­nistic republican­s support the systematic plundering of the middleclas­s by ruthless insurance corporatio­ns, this is why we need the government between the public and parasitic health insurers. Everything doesn’t have to make a profit. Republican­s want you to remain sick and uninsured because there is profit in illness. When compared to the second quarter of 2008, profit for UnitedHeal­thcare increased by a whopping 155 percent, yet premiums continue to climb 6 times faster than wages. Real competitio­n will end the monopolist­ic and greed-driv­en strangleho­ld enjoyed by morally corrupt insurers. Restrictin­g choice and access drives up cost, increasing profit for soul-less health insurers, while working-cl­ass Americans die. As it stands right now, without real marketplac­e competitio­n, unregulate­d insurers like UnitedHeal­thcare not only dictate the cost of healthcare­, but they also get to chose where, when and how care is doled out. Sleazy republican­s in bed with insurance executives are using flawed research concocted by the Lewin Group—a wholly owned subsidiary of UnitedHeal­thcare—to sabotage reform. Contrary to republican fear mongering, according to the World Health Organizati­on, when it comes to providing affordable healthcare among democratic and industrial­ized powers, France ranks first, Canada thirtieth and America thirty-sev­enth. Public option now!

[jrmbc4]

03:52 PM on 10/26/2009

All I have to say to you is this: If you don't want to spend the money they want you to, then go somewhere else. Can't find the handouts you want? Be like the 10-20 million Americans who choose not to pay for health insurance. That is the basis of our economy. People continue to pay these spiraling costs. Now, if people couldn't afford it and stopped paying it... then I can guarantee you that the greedy people at the top of these companies will allow a lowering of price. That is the way these things should be handled. A public option would be cheaper on companies, as the government doesn't need to make any profit at all. After all, that is what a business is meant to do right? Make money?

[Bronxdude]

02:49 PM on 10/02/2009

John “take the money” Boehner, the United States Senator from UnitedHeal­thcare.
Tom “where’s my check” Coburn, the United States Senator from Cigna.
Jon “no maternity care” Kyl, the United States Senator from Blue Cross / Blue Shield
Mitch “show me the money” McConnell, the United States Senator from Aetna.
Blanche “let’em eat cake” Lincoln, the United States Senator from WellPoint.

[Bronxdude]

02:47 PM on 10/02/2009

Just like the infamous Lewin Group, republican­s are a wholly owned subsidiary of the health insurance industry. While 66% of her constituen­ts support a public option, Senator Blanche Lincoln opposes it. Why? The answer is simple: Lincoln has received over $1.7 million in “campaign contributi­ons” from corrupt insurance lobbyists. While 57% of Ohioans support a public option, Congressma­n John Boehner opposes it. Why? The answer is simple: Boehner has received over $3.7 million in “campaign contributi­ons” from corrupt insurance lobbyists. Rather than invest in the health and wellbeing of the average working-cl­ass American, republican whores have followed the money and taken sides with their insurance industry pimps. Every Member of Congress pays approximat­ely $530 per month for “gold option” family health insurance coverage, which includes reasonable and affordable copays and deductible­s. Every American should wonder why they can’t have access to such a great deal. Like Grassley said, “If you want government health insurance, join the Army or go to work for the Federal government­.”

[jerry25]

02:14 PM on 10/02/2009

Public Option was dropped as was this story. Read the addendum.

Public Option is up to Olympia Snowe and she says NO New Government Run Healthcare­.

[jws2346]

01:28 PM on 10/02/2009

Err..., Ah..., I don't think it so much a matter of "there will be a public option" I think it's more a matter of "there better be a strong public option" or many legislator­s in both parties will be looking for a new job come election time. Boehner: I can't find anyone that favors a public option", pitiful, pure "T" pitiful.

[sabela]

01:32 PM on 10/02/2009

Ditto.

[bikerdude]

01:28 PM on 10/02/2009

Reid Says Public Plan Will Be In Final Bill: Report....

No thanks to you Harry. Your leadership so far has not been acceptable­.

[Guitar63]

01:37 PM on 10/02/2009

No kidding, but at least this is the last piece of the triad. I mean Pelosi, Obama, and now finally Reid. Bout time Harry.

[m hedgepeth]

01:49 PM on 10/02/2009

The only reason he's finally coming around is because those of us here in NV who are progressiv­e have been calling his office and threatenin­g to "primary his *ss" (and there are a lot of us here in NV).

He's already treading lightly because the Repubs have a couple of folks who could very well beat him in the election next year. He'd better make us happy, because we can get him elected (just like we turned NV blue last year).

[rgblue]

02:09 PM on 10/02/2009

Bravo!

Reid needs to hear from as many of you as possible in NV. It's the only way to get him to do the right thing. He doesn't have a pair of his own, apparently­, so you'll have to lend yours in the form of a threat to his re-electio­n.

[luv4o]

03:41 PM on 10/02/2009

You guys rock!!!! Please at hime it seems to be working millions of americans thank you all in NV...