Obama Will Call for Public Option in Health Care Speech

2 years ago

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Washington Reporter

After much speculation over whether President Obama will make a public insurance option a priority in his plan for health care reform, White House officials say he will in fact press for such an option in his address to Congress tonight. Aides close to the speech preparations say Obama will also likely make strong assurances that the public option would not provide such a level of subsidy that it would have an unfair advantage over private insurers.

Much of the controversy over health care reform has centered on this issue, with insurers saying a public option will drive them out of business, Republicans saying they won't support a plan that includes it, and liberal Democrats saying they won't support a plan without it. Administration officials have repeatedly said the public option is an expendable part of their agenda, and say the president will announce that he is open to better ideas if lawmakers have them.

For details: Obama to Endorse Public Plan in Speech [Wall Street Journal]

Filed Under: Breaking News, Health Care, Obama Administration

Tagged: breaking news, BreakingNews, Daily Guidance, DailyGuidance, health care, health care reform, HealthCare, HealthCareReform, public option, PublicOption, speech

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