Public Option..."a virtual certainty"
The Congressional Budget Office has released a report saying that a Public Option would come under budget and reduce the deficit over the next 10 years.
There are five bills being negotiated. They say the House bill has the best Public Option. Other versions have a national plan, negotiated rates, opt-out allowed. It can demonstrate its effects compared to states without it.
Hey, that opt-out thang ought to make Republicans happy -- it's a move by the Feds that actually INCREASES states rights for once.
~~New CBO numbers make public option a virtual certainty~~
From examiner.com: "The CBO has dealt a death blow to opponents of a public option by giving an estimate of a House bill which contains what's been called "a robust" public option that budgets out to $871 billion over ten years and reduces the deficit.
["Blue Dogs"] ...were holding out for a government run insurance option that would allow for rates to be negotiated directly with doctors and hospitals. But the CBO estimated that version wouldn't save as much money as the one in the current House bill.
[S]ome senate aides estimated that a senate bill with a public option already had 52-54 votes, more than the 51 needed. The number 60 has been bandied about ....but that number is only needed to break a Republican filibuster.
[T]he Republican argument against a public option, that it would put insurance companies out of business has always fallen on deaf ears among Democrats and has no traction in the country where there is no sympathy for insurance companies."[..]~~~
Here's where you can keep track of where Congress stands on the Public Option.
I think it needs 218 votes to pass in the House.
Here's hoping the House bill will prevail!
(BTW - There are five bills that have to be negotiated and merged into the final bill that must be passed by both houses. I apologize if I get what's in which bill mixed up. I do try to do my research...but after a while it just makes my head hurt.)
Polling shows Americans support a Public Option. The CBO has shown that it will SAVE us money and drive down the cost of health care.
Democrats are on the side of the people, Republicans are on the side of the insurance companies. It's really as simple as that.
