New public option plan - Senator Carper's [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

New public option plan
By J. Taylor Rushing and Bob Cusack - 12/01/09 08:32 PM ET

A new measure on the public option will be unveiled next week, which Senate Democratic leaders hope will break the logjam on healthcare reform.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who has been tapped by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to come up with a Plan B approach to the public option controversy that has divided Democrats, has been working closely with liberal and conservative Democrats, as well as Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

In an interview, Carper acknowledged that Reid’s “opt out” public option bill does not have 60 votes necessary for passage, even though it cleared a procedural hurdle last month.

If it attracts widespread support, the Carper measure could be added to Reid’s bill, which is expected to be debated on the Senate floor over the next several weeks.

Sensing that his bill may need changes, Reid recently called on Carper and Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to come up with new legislative language on the hot-button issue of the public option.

Carper indicated that significant progress has been made and it is a question of when, not if, the new healthcare plan will be unveiled. Carper initially said an outline of his measure could be issued later this week, but later said it is more likely to emerge next week.

Legislative text may not be available next week, Carper said.

“I expect early next week we’ll have something to share — not just with our colleagues, but with the broader community,” Carper told The Hill.
Reid’s office did not comment for this article.

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http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/70107-new-public-option-plan