Pelosi Does Not Rule Out Senate Health Plan

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has strongly supported the proposal to create a government-run health insurance option, but she left the door open on Thursday to accepting a health reform compromise from the Senate that does not include a public option.

"We in the House believe that the public option is the best way to hold insurance companies honest -- to keep them honest and also to increase competition," Pelosi said at a press conference today, reports CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Evelyn Thomas. "If there is a better way, put it on the table. As soon as we see something in writing from the Senate, we will be able to make a judgment about that."

Senate Democrats are currently considering a set of proposals -- including expanding Medicare and creating national, private plans for consumers -- in lieu of a public option. Some of the public option's strongest advocates, like former Democratic leader Howard Dean, have said they like the Senate plan. Liberal grassroots groups, however, are adamantly opposed to it.

Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), the one Republican who may vote for the health care overhaul, told reporters Thursday she could not support the plan to expand Medicare because the government program pays hospitals and doctors lower reimbursement rates than private insurers.

Even though the House bill passed with a public option, Pelosi said today the bills are "probably 75 percent compatible."

"We just have a few issues that we have to deal with," she said. Specifically, the House bill insures five million more people than the Senate bill. Additionally, it raises revenue through a tax on the wealthiest Americans while the Senate bill relies on an excise tax on high-premium insurance plans.

Pelosi said Democrats will ultimately judge their health reform bill by whether it provides affordable coverage for the middle class and security for seniors, closes the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" and sustains the solvency of Medicare. She said she would be able to better judge the Senate bill once the Congressional Budget Office provides a cost estimate for it.

"Between their bill and our bill, I know one thing for sure, we will have a great bill when we put them together," Pelosi said.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by vinnyb5 December 10, 2009 7:24 PM EST: The democrats LOVE polls. Whey are they not paying attention lately.
This bill is opposed by practically EVERYONE.

CNN/Opinion Research 12/2 - 12/3 1041 A 36 61 Against/Oppose +25
Quinnipiac 12/1 - 12/6 2313 RV 38 52 Against/Oppose +14
Rasmussen Reports 12/4 - 12/5 1000 LV 41 51 Against/Oppose +10
Gallup 11/20 - 11/22 1017 A 44 49 Against/Oppose +5
Ipsos/McClatchy 11/19 - 11/22 1176 A 34 46 Against/Oppose +12
FOX News 11/17 - 11/18 900 RV 35 51 Against/Oppose +16
CBS News 11/13 - 11/15 873 A 40 45 Against/Oppose +5; Reply to this comment


by enwr77 December 10, 2009 6:23 PM EST: Will they let foxes into the hen house with this healthcare bill? That is the foxes are the insurance companies. Will they get to control or administer a public option? I worked for a large hospital. I could never figure out why a medical institution would have to use a health insurance company. It is like a phone company paying an outside company to administer/supply the phone services their employees use. The hospital created its own low premium insurance plan. They then gave the administration part of it to our local Blue Cross and Blue Shield. This is giving the fox oversight over the chicken coup. Of course it failed. May be that is what is really wanted, the insurance companies to sabotage the public option so it can be said "we tried it and it did not work.?

This healthcare is really TARP for the insurance companies. We will all reap hell if the GOP comes to power. The healthcare reform will give them chance to let the insurance companies rob us blind. Those like the Congress women from Louisiana are obviously deep into the pockets of the insurance companies and are not for her people.; Reply to this comment


by rational_1 December 10, 2009 6:21 PM EST: "Between their bill and our bill, I know one thing for sure, we will have a great bill when we put them together," Pelosi said.

The only thing that will be great will be the size of the debt you'll bury us under Nancy. Given the pathetically inept job the Feds have done in the fiscal management of Medicare and Social Security, how much credibility does this botoxed bimbo think any of those fools in Congress really has? This will be as big of a disaster as the previous entitlement programs and God help us when the Chinese stop indulging our stupidity by loaning us all this money.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage December 10, 2009 5:44 PM EST: I dispute the claim of the author of this story that Nancy Pelosi has "strongly supported" the proposal to create a government-run health care program!

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Over time, Pelosi was 'waffled' on this so many times, jumping back and forth 'across the fence' that represents this issue, that her thigh muscles should be so athletic that she could be a contestant on the USA Women's Olympic Team in the long jump!

She's for it or against it depending on what day of the week it is!

We'll only know what she really thinks when the final bill 'comes out of conference' and she votes 'yes or no' on it!

Until then, it's SHEER speculation!; Reply to this comment