Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi stand behind public option

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 | 2:03 p.m.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is shown during a Clean Energy Jobs tour at UNLV Tuesday, August 11, 2009. The tour was part of the national Clean Energy Summit 2.0.

With Congress back, Harry Reid and Pelosi to visit the White House (9-8-09)

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emerged from their meeting with the president at the White House this afternoon committed to two seemingly impossible goals in the health care debate: the public option and a bipartisan bill.

Even as Democrats returned from a bruising August and a top House negotiator for the conservative wing of their party said today he would no longer support a public option, the two maintained it remains a viable goal for the bill.

"I believe a public option will be essential to our passage of a bill in the House of Representatives,” Pelosi said.

Reid said he restated his preference for the option, saying he believes the majority in the Senate and House believes in it. He said he had not seen the draft Senate bill that was being circulated this weekend by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which reportedly excludes the public option that is unlikely to win support in the Senate.

“We’re going to do our very best to have a public option,” Reid said.

The two met on the eve of President Barack Obama’s planned address Wednesday to a rare joint session of Congress.

The public option component would allow those without health care through their employers to buy it from the government. The public option is supported by slightly more than half of Nevadans, according to a recent poll. But in Washington it is opposed by conservative Democrats and most Republicans.

Standing outside the White House, in the cool greyness of September as fall approaches, Reid said Democrats are “re-energized and ready to do health care reform,” and looking forward to Obama’s speech, which he said would outline the bill the president wants.

“I have every belief that when he finishes this speech tomorrow, the American people will be able to put aside some of the ridiculous falsehoods that have been permeating these past few weeks,” Reid said.

Reid noted that Democrats still seek a bipartisan bill with Republicans, which would require 60 votes Reid does not yet have in the Senate for the bill. But Reid also hinted that he could use the parliamentary procedure known as reconciliation to pass the bill with just a simple majority.

“We’re still approaching this in the form of bipartisanship,” Reid said. “We don’t want to do reconciliation unless we have no alternative.”

Discussion: 19 comments so far…

By LarryVegas

9/8/09 at 2:15 p.m.

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I think that the voters of Nevada are about to give Harry a public option...
By isthis4real

9/8/09 at 2:18 p.m.

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harry does not care what nevadans think, he personally think that we need the public option!!!

$cr3w anyone else!!!
By Nick

9/8/09 at 2:46 p.m.

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Most people want the public option.

Go Harry. Stop the corporate healthcare that has failed us
By tvegas

9/8/09 at 2:48 p.m.

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The only people who do not want the public option are the health insurance companies and their shills.

They are the Republican wingnuts that oppose ANYTHING even remoteley connected to Obama and elected officials bought and paid for by health insurance company campaign funds.

All honest Americans want reform.
By neiman1

9/8/09 at 2:49 p.m.

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Is that the same harry that spent his trip home having his picture taken with his hunting rifle and discussing his rural Nevada values?

Change cities, change harrys, it's a miracle.

He knows he cannot get reelected and now is going to be a good little progressive and hope when his job changes the Queen from San Fransisco has something for him to do.
By RebelRon

9/8/09 at 2:59 p.m.

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reid and pelosi are IDIOTS. I'll bet neither one has even read the stupid bill.
How about JOBS harry?
By LarryVegas

9/8/09 at 3:14 p.m.

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Nick, not sure how the public option fits in but:

September 8, 2009
Americans Still Sharply Divided on Healthcare Reform
Opponents more likely than supporters to base their 2010 vote on the issue
by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- The American people are no less divided on healthcare reform today than they were a month ago. A new Gallup Poll finds 39% of Americans saying they would direct their member of Congress to vote against a healthcare reform bill this fall while 37% want their member to vote in favor.
By edgewise

9/8/09 at 3:33 p.m.

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According to a Research 2000 poll released today, 58% of all individuals polled favor creating a public option. 34% oppose.

Independents favor a public option 57 to 33%. Republican continue to be on the wrong side of this issue. They seem happy to condemn themselves to the wilderness while ignoring the will of the public. They will be a minority party for years.

As for being no less divided than they were a month ago, that's a victory for the Democrats, as the teabaggers and health care whiners failed to kill the Dem plan over the Congressional holiday.
By donp

9/8/09 at 3:48 p.m.

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People need to wrap their minds around the fact that the Federal Government doesn't produce anything but taxes. Government has an abysmal record when it comes to running public programs. Before health care is reformed we need to "

FIX -- MEDICARE !!!

FIX -- MEDICAID !!!

FIX -- SOCIAL SECURITY !!!

FIX -- THE POSTAL SERVICE !!!

FIX -- VETERANS HEALTH CARE !!!

FIX -- FEDERAL "LOW INCOME" HOUSING !!!

FIX -- FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION !!!

FIX -- THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM !!!

FIX -- OUR TAX SYSTEM !!!

FIX -- FEDERAL SPENDING !!!!!!!!!

HAVE THEM VOTE FOR TERM LIMITS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...THEN -- AND ONLY THEN !!!....COME BACK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- TO TALK ABOUT RUNNING OUR HEALTH CARE !!!!!!!!!
By bshoe24

9/8/09 at 3:53 p.m.

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usdebtclock.org

oh yes. another social liberal entitlement is just what is needed! pass it during the worst economic depression in probably everyone here's lifetime too! that will help bunches! i think plenty could be done without adding to the deficit. there is no way to cover everyone and not add to the deficit.

those other social programs are doing just great for us it seems. we'll be insolvent soon. well actually countries tax punitively before they go insolvent.

what we need to do is stop the wars and return to developing, building (and consuming) things in/from this country.

usdebtclock.org
By bshoe24

9/8/09 at 4:03 p.m.

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"Most people want the public option."

no they don't

huge numbers of people that pay little or no taxes (poor) want the public option.

people that have any sense want reform but, they know from common sense that it doesn't look like it can be paid without adding to the debt we already have. they also see all the illegal immigrants gaming the system. so no the large majority doesn't accept this government run healthcare being proposed.

i'm sorry that people are poor. i'm poor too but, thankfully i can pay my own healthcare (at the moment). i want poor people to have healthcare too but, i don't know how to get it to them personally without adding massive debt. WE'RE BROKE ALREADY!!!!!

there are other things to do with healthcare besides make it a government monstrosity that will be corrupted and eat more and more GDP each year.

tort reform and cross state insurance competition sound like good first starts then see how that effects things.

usdebtclock.org
By mikegino

9/8/09 at 4:08 p.m.

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neiman1: it looked like a bb gun to me.
By geocar95

9/8/09 at 5:31 p.m.

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Pelosi and Reid: Now there is a pair! Two complete IDIOTS.
By LarryVegas

9/8/09 at 5:41 p.m.

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edgewise: I appreciate you listing the new poll numbers. They were a help to establish your point. BUT WHEN YOU CALL OPPONENTS "TEABAGGERS" YOU LOST ALL CREDIBILITY.
By mikegino

9/8/09 at 8:02 p.m.

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Senator Reid doesn't look very healthy. Its probably time for a rocking chair on the porch overlooking the interstate traffic passing though Searchlight. What a legacy! Poor Harry has been overtaken by events.
By get_involved

9/8/09 at 8:17 p.m.

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New Study Shows Costs of Illegal Aliens Under House Healthcare Could Top $30 Billion Yearly!!!

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/s...
By DessertSun

9/9/09 at 2:38 p.m.

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I believe Harry Reid knows he's going down so is choosing to ignore the people of Nevada. I've also been reading where the Democrats are already admitting that they will be searching for their next leader in the Senate. Harry Reid, you are a nut-case, it will be my pleasure seeing you voted out of office. We're not stopping there, anyone who votes for Government Run Health Care is also an endangered specie (Titus/Berkley).
By WANDA

9/9/09 at 3:08 p.m.

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I'm a democrat but I will never vote for Harry Reid again. he has turned too mean and hateful.looks like Harry and Nancy have them a house BOY afterall... too bad I was hoping for a change for the better,we did'nt get it..what's wrong these people who say anything to win do they think we are not watching .they were HIRED to take care of us.we need to dock them when they don't.
By edgewise

9/9/09 at 4:49 p.m.

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"BUT WHEN YOU CALL OPPONENTS "TEABAGGERS" YOU LOST ALL CREDIBILITY."

But that is what they are, there are many protestors who are now self-identifying as "teabaggers." They LIKE being called that.

But your opinion of my credibility is about as important as Joe the Plumber.