WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Efforts to establish a government-run "public option" health insurance measure can pass the U.S. Senate, a senior Democrat said Sunday.
One day after the Senate voted 60-39 to open debate on Democratic Party-led healthcare reform measures, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told CBS's "Face the Nation" that the votes exist in the chamber to approve one of its most controversial elements: The establishment of a government-operated health plan to provide competition with private insurers in some parts of the country.
"I believe we can (pass it)," Schumer said, asserting the measure has sufficient support because of its"modest" scope and because states will be able to opt out of it if they so desire.
"What we will say to the people from the more 'red,' conservative states, your state doesn't have to take it," Schumer said "But don't make it so that my state, which would like a public option, can't take it. And the opt out works."
But Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., noted on "Face the Nation" that Massachusetts, which he described as having "the ultimate public option," also "has the second highest premiums in the country. It turns out public option doesn't drive premiums down."
