Monday October 26, 2009, 4:41 pm
His bid to give states the power to opt out of the government plan was aimed at winning support from up to 12 moderate Senate Democrats and one Republican, Maine's Olympia Snowe, who have expressed reservations about a more sweeping, nationwide public option.

But Snowe said flatly: "I am deeply disappointed with the majority leader's decision to include a public option as the focus of the legislation."

The "opt-out" compromise is still two votes shy of the 60 Reid needs to overcome a Republican filibuster, according to a senior Democratic aide on Capitol Hill who requested anonymity when discussing the plan. With a 60-40 voting majority, which includes two independents who caucus with Democrats, Reid has to hold all his members or pick up Republicans to head off a filibuster.

Monday October 26, 2009, 7:29 pm
I think the opt out is a cop out. What happens to the uninsured in Republican states?
If a Democrat, or Republican with any common sense, gets voted in.....do they then switch to the public option??? What a mess.

I say public option all the way....and,forget the 60 vote nonsense.
If the Republicans want to filibuster...let'em! Don't cave into them ahead of time. ARGH!!!

I would love to see the Republicans tie up the government, trying to stop a health care bill most Americans want!!!

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 4:04 am
I agree with you, Gerry....living in AZ (McCain & Kyl) will make it all a mess! Oh wait...it already "IS" a mess!

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 9:45 am
Lieberman's announcement will prevent it from passing with a public option unless a Republican decides to support the bill. I think everyone might be happier if the reforms to health insurance were passed in multiple bills. Republican's agree with around 80% of the current bill, why not pass that part, ie., elimination of pre-existing conditions, etc., and then work on the areas of disagreement on a second bill. Too late for this session, but it would have made this move faster if they had started that way in the first place.

Just to keep it in context, although not a Republican or Democrat, I am against the public option in the current legislation. Concept of providing health care to all citizens makes sense, but read how the legislation actually works and it may produce something that doesn't resemble the concept. This legislation is rushed and there are a lot of gaps due to compromises here and there to get various congress people's vote. An issue this important should be fully vetted before passage.

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 3:31 pm
The stoutest public option should be slammed down on the table, for whatever we wind up with, it will be a waterdowned version. So, if the strongest of public options is engaged and not what might be more viewed as favorable one in smaller form and scope, then at least a semblance version of the original should survive, instead of not having any public option first put forth considered. Reid is right in adding it to the forefront, even though politically he may pay for it.

I see that Miss Wicked is very astute in her knowledge of healthcare legislation...

Sunday November 1, 2009, 8:23 am
Leave Medicare alone