Progressives Begin to Wobble on Public Option Commitment

Progressives Begin to Wobble on Public Option Commitment
By Brian Beutler | TPM | Submitted by Michael Munk | www.MichaelMunk.com

At least four signatories to a July letter drawing a line in the sand over a public option have suggested that they may be willing to support a compromise proposal to "trigger" a public option only as a fallback if other reforms don't produce results on their own.

"Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates...is unacceptable," the letter read. "We simply cannot vote for such a proposal."

Among the signatories were Reps. Mike Capuano (D-MA) Jim McGovern (D-MA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), and Sam Farr (D-CA), who now say that definitions of "public option" may vary.

"That's why we used words like 'robust' -- because it's in the eye of the beholder," Capuano told Roll Call. "We'll make our independent judgments."

"It depends on how strong that trigger is," Farr added. "The only way I could see it getting progressive votes is by making sure the public option is strong and goes into operation." Read more.