Reid Backs the Opt-Out

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Harry Reid just announced the Senate bill will have a public option with an opt-out for states. No trigger. This is great news. Plus, he says he has the votes to pass the bill once it’s been run past the CBO for analysis.

16 thoughts on “Reid Backs the Opt-Out”

  1. This is the best news I have heard in a while. There will be a lot of weeping and moaning and knashing of teeth that this approch can not be bipartisan because the Republicans will oppose it – I ran across a quote from Jefferson:

    “The vote of your opponents is the most honorable mark by which the soundness of your conduct could be stamped. I claim the same honorable testimonial. There was but a single act of my whole administration of which [the opposing] party approved… And when I found they approved of it, I confess I began strongly to apprehend I had done wrong, and to exclaim with the Psalmist, ‘Lord, what have I done that the wicked should praise me?'” –Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1812. ME 13:162

    I think we have it with great authority that the universal LACK of approval from the Republicans is confirmation of a good (not perfect) bill.

  2. Doug, that’s a terrific quote. Extra points for TJ quoting the Bible. The man knew irony.

    Man, I hope this passes.

  3. This is great news – it could’ve been much worse. Some Dems are looking to have some of it kick in much earlier – like 2010 – instead of 2013. I don’t know what the reasoning was behind 2013, but we really need to give people a reason to believe in government.

    Great quote by Jefferson. There are certain GOP people in my life (alas) who provide a similar contrarian touchstone – if they’re twisting up their faces at me, I’m probably on the right track.

  4. 2013 really makes no sense. It should be ASAP and no later than next year.

    Besides, I dont think this public option is going to help anyone other than the really poor. IOW, I dont think insurance companies need to decrease rate.

    The only way insurance companies will pay attention is if its real public option: offered to all.

    At least thats my take on it. I was disappointed when I read the details few weeks ago.

  5. I live here in texas and i know gov. perry will opt out we are just gonna have to get these god damn repub licans out of office.

  6. It the changes are going to happen, I don’t think even this group of Democrats is stupid enough to leave them until 2013.
    If you had any brains, why would you? Could you imagine holding this carrot out to voters in 2010 and 2013, without something happening? And what if the Rethug’s win? There goes health insurance reform… AGAIN!!!
    Wait, what a supid comment. Of course these idiots could leave any change until 2013. They’re 21st Century Democrats arent’s they?
    Of course, if you want to change that perception, have some moxy and some balls and pass a real good bill.
    Nancy and Harry, the balls are in your court!

  7. Well, still not a big fan of the opt-out, but by now it’s better than I expected from the Senate.

  8. Maybe I’m missing something here, but the as far as the opt-out option goes, I foresee one problem– and I wouldn’t put it past the insurance companies to pull this kind of stunt…

    Say you have a state that Anthem has an office that employs several people within that state. Now this particular state wants to stick with the default– in other words, wants to be a part of the program. I can foresee the company threatening to pull out of the state, leaving several hundreds of jobs– unless of course they comply with the company’s demands and opts OUT. They may not be able to get their way with every state, but I wouldn’t put it past them to try their damnedest to try to get as many states to opt out as possible.

    Maybe I’m missing something here, but it seems awfully plausible, right?

  9. We Are The 801.. Yeah, you are missing something. It’s the fact that the insurance companies are salivating like Pavlov’s dog just waiting for the treat called health reform to come their way. They might be screaming of ruination but deep down they know it’ll be manna from heaven for them. Their huge profits will be absolutely, positively, and abundantly guaranteed by Uncle Sugar.

  11. Possibly good news. Expect the insurance companies to do something dramatic. I don’t think this is a done deal yet. Also, the 2013 phase-in date is bad, bad and bad. Obama could be voted out in 2012, if the economy continues to suck, and this whole thing could be strangled in it’s cradle by the next conservative bum who steals the White House (Jeb?).

  12. Could the 2013 date have been a ploy to get Repubs in with a promise that reform will not take place until after next pres. election? If so, that didn’t work either and now just make it effective Nov 2010. All of Medicare was put in place in one year I think. I see the next big progressive push being “Get it in, by 2010”

  13. Doug, that was the approach taken by Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay. If they thought they were going to get a Democrat to vote for something, they figured the bill was too far to the left and would revise it.

    Of course, you can do that with a mindless, robotic bloc. When you have a loose and fractious coalition like we do… not so easy.

  14. Let me respond to the posts thinking the Republican party is going to win in the near or medium term future. Are you nuts? Have you listened to them? Have you seen the Republicans demographics? We are talking about basically fox news viewers and little else. Heck, in this open district up in New York they are splitting into two camps: really crazy and only slightly crazy. Unfortunately we are stuck with a bunch of indecisive Democrats for the future and beyond.

  15. Crazy about Urban Planning
    (love the name-I am a lonely resident of Houston Tx.) “Unfortunately, we are stuck with a bunch of indecisive Democrats” THAT IS EXACTLY HOW WE CAN LOOSE!!!!! We are two camps also: committed progressives and ‘whatevers!!!!”

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