Public Option for Congress? David Vitter Says Yes.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) opposes the public option. In fact, he opposes the entire health care reform bill being considered by the Senate. But if both are to become a reality, Vitter says senators should be required to take the medicine they're prescribing for the health insurance industry.

"Congress has a bad habit of exempting itself from the problems it inflicts on the American people," Vitter said.

So, along with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Vitter is introducing an amendment to the reform legislation that would require all members of Congress to enroll in the government-run health insurance plan the bill would create.

"Politicians should not be mandating that other Americans join a government health care program that they have no intention of joining themselves," Vitter said. The bill does not actually mandate that people partake of the government option, but it does create a government-run insurance plan that would be an insurer of last resort for those without coverage through their jobs.

The Senate Finance Committee approved a similar measure this summer, requiring members of Congress and their staffs to buy their coverage through the health insurance exchanges created by the legislation. But the Vitter-Coburn amendment goes further by saying senators cannot buy private plans available through the exchanges, and must purchase the public-run insurance.

Vitter and Coburn certainly know the amendment puts Democrats in the tricky position of appearing not to completely support the public option if they vote against their proposal. But fellow Republicans supporting Vitter and Coburn would risk locking their families into a health care plan they might not want once it's fully formed.

At least one Democratic senator -- Sherrod Brown of Ohio -- likes the idea. Unlike Vitter and Coburn, Brown is a strong proponent of the public option and said he would not only vote for the amendment but wants to co-sponsor it. There's just one problem: Brown told The Hill he can't get anyone to call him back to discuss it.

"They've not said yes to allow me to be a co-sponsor," Brown said. "I've called their office four times. I'm proud of the public option. I think it would be great and we ought to join it and show the country how good it is. I think my interest may be more genuine than theirs, but I'd like to work with them if they'll let me. If they just want to score partisan points, I still want to work with them."