TPMDC
Crickets From House, White House On Opt-Out Idea
Bush Cricket
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House Democrats are telling me they aren't paying much attention to the scuttlebutt on the opt-out public option idea that we've been covering all day at TPMDC.
As Brian detailed earlier, when asked about it, Speaker Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed her stance the House bill will have a "robust" public option.
All day the Dems I've checked in with have echoed the line, but privately some House aides are saying they have tuned out that debate. They are confident their bill will put more heft behind the public option and figure whatever the Senate has to do to get something passed will happen but may not look anything like the final compromise that reaches President Obama.
They also said they are girding for a long slog, and don't expect the ball to be in their court for quite awhile.
As for the president, nothing has changed since we reported Robert Gibbs sidestepped the question this afternoon.
White House aides are keeping quiet, ignoring questions on the topic.
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Indie Pro
October 8, 2009 4:47 PM
I think the house dems are playing a smart game. A long view on the process.
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theone718
October 8, 2009 5:27 PM in reply to Indie Pro
No matter what passes in the Senate they need to have as strong a hand as they can get going into conference.
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Indie Pro
October 8, 2009 5:46 PM in reply to theone718
absolutely!
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JohnMcCSF
October 8, 2009 4:49 PM
Nancy's in her proper place
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jweb271
October 8, 2009 5:13 PM
I hope we can set the bar so that the opt-out is the compromise position. In other words, if we can get some bipartisan support and deem it necessary to do so, it's a great way to do it. Go for the real deal, but the opt out should become the compromise talking point, I think. Let Texas and Miss and Georgia demonize the health plan and opt out which will make them very happy, and then they can adopt it in a year or two, as they inevitably will.
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Gator_fan
October 8, 2009 5:21 PM in reply to jweb271
I think the idea is to not comment, get the senate to pass some form of a public option, and then do a deal in conference b/c the conference report can't be filibustered.
Now, if only someone would start dealing with the time line issues.
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jweb271
October 8, 2009 5:24 PM in reply to Gator_fan
Yes, time line. Let's get this done. It's going to happen now, that's obvious, so let's go. So exciting.
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Xantar
October 8, 2009 5:23 PM
Damn! I was kind of close.
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jerryfatheart
October 8, 2009 5:49 PM in reply to Xantar
Good call!
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cr8nguy
October 8, 2009 5:28 PM
a conference report can't be filibustered??
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rwc
October 9, 2009 1:32 AM in reply to cr8nguy
i believe it can
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jerryfatheart
October 8, 2009 5:48 PM
This is the right move by both the White House and the House Dems. Pelosi and crew will stay firm on a robust public option, as it's become clear that their boldness has in turn emboldened their progressive colleagues in the Senate to turn up the pressure on the conservaDems. The White House, which has stated its support for a public option, will adopt a public stance of staying above the fray while it works behind the scenes to feel this out. Legislative language still needs to be drawn up, after all, but momentum is building.
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lifeofreilly
October 8, 2009 6:40 PM
Why should the House support or criticize this compromise? It's a development in the Senate that has grown out of that chamber's unique demands.
The House shouldn't get caught up in this one bit (at least not publicly) - they should proceed toward passing a bill with a strong public option, then worry about compromises with the Senate at a later point in time.
PS. This headline is disappointing. Makes it seem that the House is "out to lunch" because it's focusing on its own affairs, rather than on the Senate's.
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Baysponge
October 8, 2009 7:24 PM
I hope that someone would stand up for the uninsured in red states as well as blue ones. The most recent proposal for a public option would allow states to opt out. Gov. Dean & Sen. Carper & Schumer has talked approvingly. So has Sen. Baucus.
The issue of the public option is ensuring competition. I would hope that someone who add the following limitation to the right to opt out: In order for a state to do so, the state must show that every major market in the state has at least two (2) different insurers that have a market share over a minimum leveI i.e. 25%. This requires some level of private competition to exist PRIOR to opting out.
What could the objection to this limitation be?
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 8, 2009 8:17 PM in reply to Baysponge
They're not talking about letting states opt out of the whole thing, including subsidies, expanded medicaid, exchanges and "universal" coverage through a mandate. Just the public option.
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