Reid announces 'opt-out' option

Posted: Monday, October 26, 2009 4:07 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Mark Murray
As expected, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that the Senate health-care bill his office would be writing -- merging the Senate HELP and Senate Finance bills -- would include the so-called "opt out" public option plan.

While acknowledging that the public option would not be a silver bullet, he said at a news conference this afternoon that it would work to level the playing field with private health insurers. "States would be able to determine if the public option works for them," he said, referring to the "opt out" provision.

Reid also disclosed that he had discussed his move with the White House, as well as with Sens. Chris Dodd (chairman of the HELP committee) and Max Baucus (chair of the Finance committee). And he said he would be sending the legislation to the Congressional Budget Office for an official price tag.

When asked during the Q&A with reporters whether he was 100% sure he could get 60 votes on legislation that includes a public option "opt out," Reid side-stepped that question, saying that the legislation would have the support of the Democratic caucus.

When asked whether this move would endanger Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R) support for any health-care bill, Reid answered that he had spoken with her on Friday, and that she had made clear that she doesn't support a public option of any kind.

Video: Sen. Harry Reid says that the public option with an 'opt out' is the best way forward. Watch his news conference.

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Comments

You opt your left foot in, you opt your left foot out ....

Well, I guess that seals it .... the Hokey Pokey really IS what Congress is all about.

Witty Woman (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:17 PM)

On the one hand, it is good to see that they are paying attention to the fact that most polls show a majority of Americans want a public option (and those that don't show that at least a plurality want it). And I still believe that a public option is a very good thing.

But I am very concerned the bill will not be able to get the 60 votes necessary to override a fillibuster. Because we all know the republicans don't care what the majority want or what is best for our country.

They just "want their country back."

Chris - IL (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:19 PM)

Making A Difference

A great deal of time, energy and money went to see to it that the public option was not dead, as had been reported for months and months.

Keith, Rachel, Ed, Howard Dean, Bernie Sanders, Jay Rockefeller, DailyKos, Moveon.org and ThinkProgress are the first who come to my mind as far as the work they put into this. All the misinformation they continued for months to shoot down.

It's amazing work they all did. They fought and fought and fought. So did average Americans who want nothing more than decent affordable health care coverage for their families.

And the GOP did what in the meantime to ensure health care reform? Zero. As usual.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:19 PM)

When asked whether this move would endanger Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R) support for any health-care bill, Reid answered that he had spoken with her on Friday, and that she had made clear that she doesn't support a public option of any kind.
__________________

HELLO... Harry... nice to see you took the bi-partisan blinders off and getting down to the nitty gritty of getting HCR DONE!

Let the GEENOPEE continue to sit on their collective asses and DO NOTHING!

If they thought the 06 & 08 elections were 'bad'... it's about to get a WHOLE lot worse for the dopes of NOPE!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:19 PM)

Just like in Afghanistan, the Democrats are going it alone.

Bad Bet (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:21 PM)

Harry Reid. Mr. Charisma. About as exciting as watching paint dry.

L Tanner, Mobile Alabama (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:21 PM)

>>>When asked whether this move would endanger Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R) support for any health-care bill, Reid answered that he had spoken with her on Friday, and that she had made clear that she doesn't support a public option of any kind.
==========
Does this mean we can FINALLY stop trying to woo the "Snowe Queen" and get a real reform package on the table?

Totally unrelated -- The latest excuse for the wayward pilots who missed their landing by about 100 miles; they were on their LAPTOPS! Sorry, but I'm betting they were doing the MILE HIGH thing with the stewardesses.

Phillies over Yanks in 7
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:21 PM)

Just remember one thing. The Republicans tried twice to pass an amendment that congress would have to be on the same plan as the rest of us peons and both times the democrats in lock step voted them down

ThePorch (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:22 PM)

Harry, YOU LIE!!!

Joe W., SC (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:23 PM)

Well America, what a difference a year makes. "Hope and Change" has now turned into "Pay Up Sucker".

Brent - Seatle (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:24 PM)

Harry, rather than push it...please shove it!

Blink (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:25 PM)

What a nightmare.

JDCM (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:25 PM)

O.K. What if all 50 states "opt-out"? Then what?

jim,oregon (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:26 PM)

Good job, Harry Reid. When you think about it, majority (or miniority) leader jobs are not easy especially when dealing with legislation as challenging as HCR. Just caught Ed Shultz and he commented that Pres Obama was right in keeping hands off and allowing the House and Senate to work through the process without drawing a line in the sand even though so many progressives (he included himself) wanted that line drawn.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:30 PM)

And he [Reid] said he would be sending the legislation to the Congressional Budget Office for an official price tag.

=============

Why not send it out to a few private firms too Harry? Let's see if we can get a consensus on the true cost of the bill. Don't want to trust all of the scorekeeping to the government, now do we?

The Ref (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:33 PM)

Oh I see, so states can "opt out" of the public option, which means NO PUBLIC OPTION!!

Sickening, just sickening!! I am truly hoping some third-party candidate, who WILL FULFILL his/her promises, runs in 2012 and beats the hell out of those in charge now!!

First, no single payer and now an "opt out" for states, just swell!!

I didn't vote for this; I know millions did NOT vote for this; we voted for real change!! I didn't have a lot of confidence change would come when I cast my vote but this is beyond what I even imagined!!

I can just see Arnie in California now, "OPT OUT" - debate!!

It's disgusting!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:34 PM)

What is not being said by Reid are the federal dollars that a state will lose if they choose to opt out? They will conveintly leave that out so it will still seem like it is an option when it is actually a big government dem power grab.

chris, alabama (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:34 PM)

First Read, you now have three new threads up with zero comments, please get with the program and post the comments we take the time to write.

hello! (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:35 PM)

I prefer a robust public option, but I can accept the opt out. Many supporters of the robust might be disappointed. However, it is a brillant move that might lead to the end of the republic party. How will they explain to their constiuants that they will not receive affortable healthcare? Many people will protest in the red states and the state legislaters might have to override their governors decision similiar to Alaska with the stimulus funds. I can't imagine the republican campaigning aganist affortable healthcare in next year's midterm elections.

voter (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:42 PM)

Did any reporter get through the third sentence in Reid's announcement? They all seemed to be nodding off around that time.

Mr. Excitement (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:48 PM)

Who knew...

Dems have a backbone!

Good job Harry!

Thomas, Brooklyn NY (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:48 PM)

After months of the media, experts, and misguided town hall protesters (not to mention the insurance industry) writing off the chances of a public option, guess what? We may just get one! Is it possible that Congress will finally listen to the American people?

In this bold move that even an administration official called "dangerous" and others call risky, Senator Harry Reid went on record to say the Senate Health Care Reform bill will have a public option. I think his decision to come out with this so openly and confidently reflects:

A) He (and other senators) have been bombarded with calls from constituents and felt great pressure from various pro-reform and progressive groups. ****fist bumps to all who helped in the effort!*****

B) He had a positive sense of (or direct knowledge of) where Senators stand in terms of whether they can support this bill and/or at least vow to block a fillibuster.

Way to show that backbone, Reid! 70% of Americans want a public option-thank you for listening!

I hope the voters in Maine put pressure on Snowe to support this!

Izzy Buffalo, NY (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:52 PM)

In less than a years Reid will be concedng the election to his Republican foe.

Then Obie can give him latrine duty in some public building and Reid can play "public option" all day.

RAZOR (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 4:57 PM)

Great news!! I just saw this:

Meantime, the head of the AFL-CIO said Monday he's willing to consider a tax on high-end health insurance plans to help pay for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, as long as middle-class workers aren't hurt.

The comments by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka indicated new flexibility on the issue from a powerful Democratic constituency as House and Senate leaders scramble to finalize sweeping health care legislation. Trumka last month dismissed the proposed insurance plan tax as "outrageous."
-------------------------------------------------

The AFL-CIO is on board as long as their members aren't affected. Just another example of the long and glorious history of liberalism that says "I want it, I just want someone else to pay for it."

Dismayed, Minneapolis (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:05 PM)

Those rethuglican states and those people that voted for the GOP can suffer when they get sick and have no insurance or when there insurance deney them coverage. Great political move by Obama and Dems.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:07 PM)

Aah lets see ,if a company with 50 workers can pay a fine of $750 a person for not providing insurance or can pay 12-15000 each to insure them which would they choose. Gee this is a tough one huh? Oh yeah younger people are really gonna love the part where they pay a fine for remaining uninsured. Yeah opt out makes sense too..... NOT. The only way you can keep premiums and costs low is if a lot of healthy people are in the insurance pool. If states can opt out and reduce that number,somebody please splain to me how this works again. Hey except for these few fatal flaws this plans a winner

Grumpy Old Bastard (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:10 PM)

Senator Snow is known for saying, "When history calls", and we all know what that means. Her constituents overwhelmingly support a Public Option and if they change their minds, they can opt out under Harry Reid's version. It would seem that Ms Snow will have to decide which period of history she prefers, the French Revolution or the American Revolution when deciding which way to vote...

Tom, Mead, CO (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:16 PM)

GOOD FOR YOU, Sen Reid
It's a bold move

Let's hope it works

It may well be that he'll have to compromise
But, why not start from a position of STRENGTH
Sen Harry Reid may just have ensured his own re-election by demonstarting Strength

Bravo, Sen Reid

MSierra, SF (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:23 PM)

Right about now......
It must SUCK to be a Republican !!!

All the Tea Bagging
All the Posturing
All the Trash Talking

It must SUCK to see the Democrats getting something accomplished while you sit on the sidelines
Irrelevent and Ignored
Waving your Tea Bags

LOL ;-D

SUCKERS !!!

MSierra, SF (Sent Monday, October 26, 2009 5:37 PM)

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