They could put the Public Option in the bill now . From Huffington Post:

[mucifer]

Ryan Grim
Huffington Post:
Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday morning in finding two flaws in the House-passed health care reconciliation package. Neither is of any substance, but the Senate parliamentarian informed Democratic leaders that both are in violation of the Byrd Rule.

One is related to Pell Grants and the other makes small technical corrections. Why they're in violation of the Byrd Rule doesn't matter; the upshot is that Republicans will succeed in at least slightly altering the legislation, which means that the House is once again required to vote on it. With no substantial changes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) should have little problem assembling the same coalition of 220 Democrats who passed the measure Sunday night. That's already four more than the minimum 216 required for passage.

But the ruling might give Democrats another option -- the public one.

Democratic leadership no longer has to worry that additional amendments would send it back to the House, since it must return to the lower chamber regardless. The Senate is now free to put to the test that much-debated question of whether 50 votes exist for a public option. Democrats could also elect to expand Medicare or Medicaid, now that they only need 50 votes in the Senate and the approval of the House.

The question then becomes whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) could pass the reconciliation changes with a public option. She has long maintained that the House has the votes to do so. Indeed, it did so in late 2009. Since then, however, two members who supported the public option are no longer in the House. But with fewer members, the House also needs two fewer votes than the 218 required for a majority in November, alleviating some of that pressure.

Would they have the votes?

The Huffington Post interviewed House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Wednesday evening and asked if he thought he could have gotten the public option back through a second time, when the House voted on Sunday, even without those members who had left. "Yes, sir," he said emphatically. Clyburn added that the problem for the public option has never been in the House. The problem has been in the Senate. And now the upper chamber has a chance to vote on it.
Story continues below http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/25/byrd-rule-sends-health-care-back-to-house_n_512609.html


It's not gonna happen because deals were made. But, something to think about.

[DCBob]

1. If anyone approached Harry with this idea now he would probably faint..

:)

[meowomon]

2. I think this would make the repukes spit up green pea soup

and their heads would spin around.

[vaberella]

3. Did the author forget why it's out in the first place?!

We have blue dog Dems who were against it and lastly the actions of crazy republicans won't let Senators push it through.

[denimgirly]

5. I'm still amazed at how Americans have been so broken thoroughly that ...

one forgets that the government is suppose to run for the people not for a small minority group in the senate who has been paid off by special interests. If the people behind these democratic leaders really wanted it they'd be out on the streets a la the fabricated Tea Party groups demanding for it or anarchy would be the new color of the streets. When polls show 80+% of the people demand a public option and the House passes a bill with it, and the Senate says it has 50+ votes to pass the PO but it is still scuttled that tells me a very small sliver of people control the government, not the people. Until the people become more educated (All MSM is to blame for sure), and less fearful they will always get watered-down mish-mash at best.

[LiberalFighter]

11. Blue dogs like Senator Evan Bayh who couldn't handle the pressure of the Senate.

[karynnj]

4. Not likely to happen - note Clyburn's interview was when it seemed to be speaking

of something not done and not going to be done. I wonder if it being a possibility would have made him more cautious.

The bill as is was very narrowly passed and there was no one on the left (unless you count Steven Lynch, who wanted to be everything to everybody and seems to now have everyone against him), so there is almost NO wiggle room. They got only 4 votes more than was needed. They are not going to put something as major as a public option in. They want to pass the changes they promised the House they would - and they will likely stop at that.

[denimgirly]

6. Agreed with your analysis. It's quite sad really when 80%+ of Public want it

but yet 80% of those leaders representing those people refuse to do it. Translation: they are bought and owned by special interest groups...as the republicans are. Sad, but true. Until real campaign finance reform happens i really doubt America will get meaningful change in any area...it will at best be incremental change, as this heath bill was...and hopefully future presidents will inch it a bit further. It's the worst kind of progress but whatever. I dont blame the president because when you understand american politics the real power is Congress, but sadly they are easily misled by the green.

[harun]

7. Sanders should now put forward his amendment for a PO. If the Senate tables

the motion, oh well. He wouldn't be the reason it has to go back to the House. If they did pass it in the Senate then the House could vote on it as part of the package.

I don't think they will though.

[stray cat]

8. They could but then it has to be repassed in the house - and if it doesn't no bill?

[harun]

9. It has to be repassed in the House anyway now. Senate Parlimintarian

found two provisions that did not meet the rules for reconciliation.

If it doesn't pass the House it means no Reconciliation bill but the big Senate bill is law regardless.

[flyarm]

10. In a Setback for Democrats, Health Care Going Back to the House for Another Vote

this was on front page of AOL..( niether of substance? some women here would question that!!)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In a Setback for Democrats, Health Care Going Back to the House for Another Vote

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/24/senate-begins-voting-on-final-health-care-bill/

In a Setback for Democrats, Health Care Going Back to the House for Another Vote
-InPolitics Daily ;


Patricia Murphy
Columnist

In a Setback for Democrats, Health Care Going Back to the House for Another Vote
Posted:
03/24/10


snip:

Democratic senators received word just before 3 a.m. Thursday morning that the reconciliation portion of the health care reform bill will have to go back to the House of Representatives for a second vote once it passes the Senate this week.

The Senate parliamentarian, Alan Frumin, ruled in favor of Republicans on two objections to portions of the student loan reform section of the bill, a decision that changes the text of the reconciliation bill and thus requires the House to vote again. The House and Senate must pass identical bills when using the reconciliation process.

The ruling followed a 10-hour marathon voting session that began in the Senate at 5 Wednesday afternoon and dragged on until 3 Thursday morning, during which senators voted on 29 separate Republican amendments to the bill, all of which were defeated. Democrats agreed to break from voting and reconvene at 9:45 a.m. Thursday to consider more Republican amendments.

The delays were seen as a victory for Republicans, who have made no secret of their desire to derail the bill.

Among the Republican amendments defeated Wednesday were a measure from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to prevent convicted child molesters and rapists from getting reimbursed by the government for drugs to treat erectile dysfunction; an amendment from Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) to require all members of Congress to enroll in Medicaid; a measure from Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to certify that no households earning less than $250,000 will see increased taxes as a result of health care reform; and an amendment by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) to certify that Americans will not have to change their health insurance as a result of the bill if they do not want to.

[Jersey Devil]

12. I am getting tingles from my fanstasy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x242807

[grahamhgreen]

13. I'm calling John Lewis now to ask him to do it!