Facing Steep Odds, 128 House Democrats Revive the Public Option - Wash. Independent

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Hard to believe, but some Democrats see courting the "irrelevant" left as beneficial.

http://washingtonindependent.com/92983/facing-steep-odds-128-house-democrats-revive-the-public-option

Four months after President Barack Obama enacted the Affordable Care And Patient Protection Act, House Democrats have revived a top liberal priority that was eliminated from the sweeping health care law in the latter stages of a grueling year-long debate: the public option.

Armed with a new line of attack aimed at soothing deficit fears, Democratic Reps. Lynn Woolsey (Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) and Pete Stark (Calif.) last Thursday unveiled a bill that would offer consumers the choice of a “robust” government-run insurance plan alongside the private plans in the law’s exchanges. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the bill, which has gained 128 co-sponsors, will reduce the federal deficit by $68 billion between 2014 and 2020.

“As the deficit continues to grow, so does the need for a program that can save billions of dollars and improve health care while doing it,” Woolsey, the co-chair of the progressive caucus, told The Washington Independent. “We are introducing the public option now so it will be available as a ready-made offset or deficit reducer in this or the next Congress.”

The measure is unlikely to reach the floor this year, and could face even steeper odds next Congress. If nothing else, it appears part of a concerted effort by Democrats to galvanize disenchanted progressives and attack Republicans ahead of the tough November midterm elections.

[rocktivity]

1. Better than to try and and fail than not to have tried at all

It's STILL the most fiscally, politically, AND morally responsible thing to do!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[damntexdem]

3. Yes, show some spine the Dem leadership didn't during the HCR debate.

Of course, single-payer would be better; but this would be a promising start.

[Karmadillo]

2. If they want to galvanize our wallets in a losing cause, why not push single payer?

nt