"Opt Out" Public Option is In

On Monday October 26, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for the Senate health reform bill to include a public option. The bill will include a provision allowing states to opt out prior to 2014.

The Senate bill will be sent to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring within the next couple of days. Reid skirted the question as to whether he had the 60 votes needed to bring a vote to the Senate floor.

The much discussed trigger that would have delayed implementation of the public option will not be included nor scored. The bill will include the co-op provisions of the Senate Finance Committee bill.

C-Span reports that progressive Democratic senators refused to accept anything less than the public option, driving the final decision by the majority leader. Why the Opt Out? According to Reid, "we have 60 people in the caucus. It's comfort level - - we all hug together and see where we come out."