Moderates express concern for Senator Reid's "Public Option"

Moderate Democrats have responded with concern today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's decision to bring to the chamber's floor a health-care bill containing a "public option" government insurance plan. Some have said they still do not know whether they could support a public option on a final vote even if they were supportive of the procedural motion to bring the measure to the floor. But many moderate remain opposed to any form of government-run insurance plan even if it has a state "opt-out" option.

If the Senate bill advanced next month it is still possible the opt-out provision could be cut from bill during Floor debate. Some moderate Democrats are more comfortable with the "trigger" approach that Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has advocated, saying that a variant of a public plan is more likely to win 60 votes. Under Snowe's approach, a public plan would be available only in states where private companies do not offer policies at broadly affordable rates which creates a trigger to incent cost reductions by insurers.

As of today, Washington insiders report that Senator Reid is short of the votes to pass a government-run public option in the Senate bill. Several moderate Democrats including Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE); Evan Bayh (D-IN); and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)have so far declined to say if they'll support a motion to begin debate on the bill.