A Strange Call From Reid to Vote on the Public Option … Later
What began as one of the most controversial issues of the months-long health care debate continues to be so: The public option -- a government-backed insurance
Jul 31, 2020526.4K Shares7.5M Views
What beganas one of the most controversial issues of the months-long health care debate continues to be so: The public option — a government-backed insurance plan designed to compete with private companies — wasn’t included as part of the Democrats’ reconciliation bill, sending some liberalsthrough the roof.
Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attempted to appease some of the chamber’s most ardent public option supporters, vowing to hold a separate vote on the issue later this year, the Huffington Post reportedtoday. In a letter to Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Reid said he was “very disappointed” that the Democrats didn’t have the votes to keep the provision as part of the reform bills.
“I remain committed to pursuing the public option,” Reid wrote.
“„While I believe that the legislation we are considering does much to provide affordable coverage to millions of Americans and curb insurance company abuses, I also believe that the public option would provide additional competition to make insurance even more affordable. As we have discussed, I will work to ensure that we are able to vote on the public option in the coming months.
Unmentioned, of course, is the tiny inconvenience that, if Democrats didn’t have the votes to pass the public option by reconciliation (which requires just a simple majority), they certainly won’t have the votes to pass it later in the year, when the filibuster will be back requiring 60 votes to pass anything.
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles