Oct 12 2009
States Public Plan Opt-Out Option?
Further to my comment last week about the deference to states contained in Senate proposals, note that Senators Schumer (NY) and Carper (DE) have proposed a state-by-state opt-out option that has serious potential for reviving the public plan option.
The Huffington Post reports: “In private, aides on Capitol Hill say that the opt-out option remains one of several proposals being debating (sic) as a compromise to a straightforward national public plan. But, they add, it is quickly winning plaudits within the caucus. A senior aide said that Schumer was taking the lead on negotiating the compromise approach — along with Carper….”
Senator Tom Carper’s original compromise proposal had been an “opt-in” option for states, but the suggestion of reversing the option by progressives in the Senate seems to be gathering momentum. Stay tuned.