Public Option Fails to Garner Support in the Senate Finance Committee

Work is still required on the Baucus Health Care Reform proposal before it passes out of the Senate Finance Committee and many amendments will greet Senators today as they reconvene for a sixth day of work on the legislation.

Supporters of the public option failed in their efforts to include government-run health care on Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Rockefeller, (D-WV) proposed the first public option amendment Tuesday. His amendment failed 15 to 8, with all Republicans and 4 Democrats joining for a nay vote. Sen. Baucus, (D-MT), chairman of the committee was joined by Senator Conrad (D-ND) and all Republicans to defeat the Schumer amendment, a watered down version of the Rockefeller amendment. Sen. Lincoln, (D-AR), was not present for the vote.

It was not surprising that these efforts failed before the most moderate Senate committee, and the only one of five that has not supported a federally financed and government-run option. Proponents of the public option claim it will provide much needed competition for the private insurance market. Opponents of a government-run plan believe it will put private insurance companies out of business resulting in a complete federal government take-over of health care in America.

During Town Hall Meetings held in August during the legislative recess,many Americans asked their Senators and Representatives if they would be subject to the same Public Option choices that its supporters seek to force on the American citizens. Sen. Grassley, (R-IA), offered an amendment Tuesday to the Senate Finance version that would force lawmakers to shop their insurance from within the new state purchasing exchanges that would be instituted by this bill. Grassley said it was only fair that the lawmakers face the same rules as their constituents. The committee agreed to the Grassley proposal late Tuesday. The committee defeated another Grassley amendment allowing states to opt out of requiring citizens to purchase insurance or face hefty fines.

The lone Republican that might vote "yes" on the final Senate bill is Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Snowe has been discussing a compromise with Democrats regarding a public plan that would only come into play in states where it is determined that private insurers aren't providing enough alternatives considered by the federal government to be affordable.

Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee plan to mount a strong opposition regarding issues of coverage for illegal immigrants and federally funded abortion when the debate continues Wednesday. The issues of federally provided health care for illegal immigrants is sticky and while Democrats claim it would not be possible for illegals to gain access to the public option in the house version of health care reform, read my article Illegal Aliens and Health Care Reform for some slick ways Democrats have skirted this issue in HR 3200. Republicans will be battling loopholes in the Senate version that would allow for federally funded abortion and coverage for illegal aliens.

Obama maintains Health Care Reform is his most important domestic policy issue and in many ways has staked his presidency on the passage of sweeping health care reform. The House and Senate have both struggled to write legislation that would create meaningful reform. The Public Option continues to be one of the more difficult stumbling blocks to be debated in legislative proposals. Many liberal Democrats are strong supporters of the public option while most Republicans and many moderate Democrats are opposed to the government-run health care option.

Sources:

Hitt, Greg and Adamy, Janet. (30 Sept. 2009). Public Plan Goes Down in Senate Health Vote. (online). 30 Sept. 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125424025772149687.html

Turner, Trish. (29 Sept. 2009). Five Democrats Help Defeat Public Option. (online), 30 Sept. 2009. http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/09/29/five-democrats-help-defeat-public-option/