Harry Reid: 'Broad Agreement' Reached on Health Care
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
12/8/09
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced late Tuesday night that a consensus has been reached among 10 Democratic negotiators on the health care bill, including an agreement on the public option that has vexed members of his caucus for months.
But, the Associated Press reported that the same group of 10 Democratic senators had agreed to drop the public option from their negotiations. The dueling headlines confounded even senior Democrats Tuesday night, who said they were unaware of any agreement.
The key element of the plan discussed by the 10 senators would be a new array of non-profit insurance plans, administered by the Office of Personnel Management, and available across state lines. A senior Democratic aide told Politics Daily that one plan includes a public option that would be triggered if the non-profit plan failed to reduce costs as hoped for.
Reid declined to discuss details, but told reporters "broad agreement" had been reached. He has sent a series of proposals to the Congressional Budget Office for cost estimates and released the following statement:
"This has been a long journey. We have confronted many hurdles, and tonight I believe we have overcome yet another one.
But, the Associated Press reported that the same group of 10 Democratic senators had agreed to drop the public option from their negotiations. The dueling headlines confounded even senior Democrats Tuesday night, who said they were unaware of any agreement.
The key element of the plan discussed by the 10 senators would be a new array of non-profit insurance plans, administered by the Office of Personnel Management, and available across state lines. A senior Democratic aide told Politics Daily that one plan includes a public option that would be triggered if the non-profit plan failed to reduce costs as hoped for.
Reid declined to discuss details, but told reporters "broad agreement" had been reached. He has sent a series of proposals to the Congressional Budget Office for cost estimates and released the following statement:
"This has been a long journey. We have confronted many hurdles, and tonight I believe we have overcome yet another one.
"I asked Senators Schumer and Pryor to work with some of the most moderate and most progressive members of our diverse caucus, and tonight they have come to a consensus.
"It is a consensus that includes a public option and will help ensure the American people win in two ways: one, insurance companies will face more competition, and two, the American people will have more choices.
"I know not all 10 Senators in the room agree on every single detail of this, nor will all 60 members of my caucus. But I know we all appreciate the hard work that these progressives and moderates have done to move this historic debate forward."