Public Option Will Remain in House Bill

Comments by President Obama and administration officials caused a flurry of news reports to conclude over the weekend that the highly-discussed “public option” is being dropped from Obamacare. According to Politico, Democratic House officials are saying no — that there are 100+ House members who are opposed to reform without a “public option.”

The debate over the “public option,” not favored in the Senate but a must in the House, is setting up an internal conflict within the Democratic party and its constituent groups over the entire concept of health care reform. It is not clear what the outcome will be.

What continues to be clear, however, is that whatever form reform takes, abortion will be a part of the package unless an abortion exclusion amendment is adopted. The House leadership is setting rules which will not allow amendments to be debated or voted on. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) is setting up his own fight for a rule to allow the abortion exclusion amendment have its chance at passage buy the full House.

You can read the Politico article here.

Barbara Lyons