Teamsters chief: Public Option shouldn't be dealbreaker

[Thrill]

Hoffa said dropping the so-called public option wouldn't be a 'deal killer' for health-care legislation, signaling a split among leaders of unions that are a core constituency of President Barack Obama.

"'We've got to find out what's doable,' Hoffa, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's 'Political Capital with Al Hunt,' which airs today. 'I think it's important to get something done this time and declare a victory.'

"Hoffa's position adds to debate among Obama supporters over how best to accomplish an overhaul of the U.S. health-care system, the president's top domestic priority. Richard Trumka, who takes over as president of the 11 million-member AFL-CIO this month, said Sept. 1 that a government-run insurance program known as the public option is an 'absolute must.'"

http:// http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a8D03Ah4QAaU

Clearest sign in my opinion that there isn't going to be a public option

[ProSense]

1. Why, is Hoffa writing the bill? n/t

[dgibby]

2. This does not bode well. n/t

[krawhitham]

3. Hoffa is still riding daddy's coat tails

he brings nothing to the table