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Reid Reads the Handwriting on the Wall

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave birth to the official Senate version of the Democratic plan for health reform, by announcing that it will contain a plan that includes a public option. Individual states could opt out of participation in the federal plan.

Widely viewed as moribund just a few months ago, President Obama's idea for a non-profit, government administered health insurance to compete against private insurers was on life support since the summer when Republicans appeared to succeed in manipulating the public dialog with a program of manufactured, incendiary attacks. Condemned from the outset by the GOP, the public option has steadily grown in the esteem of the voters according to recent polls. A Washington Post poll this week came in at above 60% in favor; one tally from SurveyUSA showed support at close to 77%

As proposed by Senator Reid and colleagues this particular version of the public option will come up short in the eyes of many. In an attempt to please conservatives within the Democratic Party, the authors of the bill incorporated certain restrictions including the "opt out" provision. Proponents of a much stronger version of the public option have pointed out that, as written, only the uninsured will be eligible and it will not be available for those who already have insurance. Stay tuned.

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