Pelosi Aims to Squeeze Skeptics on Public Option With Cheaper Bill Than Senate

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Pelosi Aims to Squeeze Skeptics on Public Option With Cheaper Bill Than Senate
Brian Beutler | October 19, 2009, 12:41PM

The House health care bill is getting cheaper, but Democrats aren't boasting just yet. Because when they ultimately break silence the hope is to present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a bill that will walk the walk of fiscal responsibility--including a public option, which is projected to save the government billions.

As always, the legislative process is unpredictable, and the Senate is operating in isolation from the House. But with the public option potentially in the balance, Speaker Pelosi's goal is this: present conservative Democrats in both chambers with a Hobson's choice between a public option bill and a potentially more expensive Senate bill that may have no public option at all.

On Friday, the Washington Post ran with leaked CBO numbers, showing that House health care leaders have reduced the price tag of their bill by at least $100 billion. The numbers were preliminary--not reflective of the current state of the legislation, which is changing constantly--but they showed a definite downward trajectory in the overall cost of its reform plan.

Still, leadership was not pleased.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/house-leaders-work-to-present-conservative-democrats-with-fiscally-responsible-health-care-bill.php?ref=mp

[FreakinDJ]

1. 100 Billion WITH a Public Option would sell to Americans

by an even higher majority

[Cha]

2. Thanks for working on this, Nancy, and all

of those who are working so hard on getting us a PO.

And, fuck those who use divisive tactics from Anonymous Sources to whip up the rabid red meaters.

[jaysunb]

5. Agreed !

on all counts :thumbsup:

[berni_mccoy]

3. Keep up the good work Mrs. Speaker.

[SharksBreath]

4. So they want to make a great bill.

Thank You.

[jtedder]

6. The Bailey Building & Loan

The health care bill must have a public option. Do you remember Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life?" Think of the big insurance companies as Mr. Potter. Think of Jimmy Stewart and the Bailey Building and Loan as the public option. We need Jimmy Stewart and the Bailey Building and Loan so that people have somewhere to go instead of crawling to Potter.

The health care bill must have a public option. Anything less than that is a defeat for President Obama,the Democratic Party and the American people. We can't let the Republicans and special interests win this one. "The Party of No" must be defeated.

[demwing]

7. Mindfuck Alert

[David Zephyr]

8. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is doing a superb job. She truly deserves praise.

Go Nancy! I am a fan!

[ShockediSay]

9. Ditto and Nancy, you've got my attention n/t