Public Option Could Get Bipartisan Support, Says Progressive Advocate

Co-Founder of Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) Adam Green says Thursday that the American public is in favor of the public option, adding that he thinks the public option could get bipartisan support in Congress. (0:31)

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Public Option Should Be Discussed, Says Democrat Weiner

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said during a conference call on Thursday that he wanted the public option to be discussed during Thursday's health care summit. (0:28)
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Democrat Pingree Still Believes in Public Option

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) says during a conference call with reporters that she still believes in the public option, despite the setbacks. (0:19)
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Sen. Coburn: Putting Politicians On Public Option Will Prevent Rationing

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.) stated that his amendment to put politicians and their staff on the public option will prevent rationing. (0:21)

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Reid Still Strong On Public Option

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Tuesday said that the public option will continue to be included in the Senate's health care reform legislation.

“We’re going to move forward, I believe strongly, with the public option,” said Reid. (0:23)
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Limited Eligibility For Public Option In House Bill, Says Expert

Health care expert Trudy Lieberman says it is a little known fact that the public option plan will not be available to "very many people." She says the public was led to believe that insurance reform would allow anyone to join the public option for lower priced insurance, but that is not the case. (0:21)
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Six Million People Eligible For Public Option In House Health Care Bill, Says Expert

Health Expert Trudy Lieberman says that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is estimating that only about six million Americans will be able to take advantage of the public option plan in the House health care bill. (0:29)
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Government-Run Insurance Will Defeat Private Insurers Says McConnell

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Wednesday on the Senate floor that Republicans should have a say in the crafting of health care reform legislation. (0:13)
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Mitch McConnell: Public Option Will End Private Insurance

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Wednesday on the Senate floor that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business. (0:26)
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Senate Minority Leader: Public Option Is A Bad Idea

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the American public is not in favor of a public option plan, and calls its inclusion in the Senate's healthcare bill a bad idea. (0:14)
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Public Option Will Spur Innovation Says Illinois Senator

Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) says Wednesday on the Senate floor that a public option plan would spur innovation in the health insurance industry. (0:51)
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House Health Reform Bill Marks Government Takeover

Congressman John Kline (R-Minn) says of the public option plan in the House bill, whether it's a thin slice, or the whole pie, it still leads to a government takeover of the health care industry. (0:28)
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Health Analyst Calls Public Option A "Ruse"

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute blasted the public option Tuesday as a "ruse."

"The President and his allies in Congress want to create a new government run option for people under 65, but it's not a public option because the program will drive private insurers out of business, despite offering an inferior product," said Cannon. "What they call a public option is not really an option. So it's a 'ruse.'" (0:42)
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Reid Backs Public Option With State Opt-Out Provision

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that the public option, saddled with a provision that will allow states to individually opt-out, will be included in the final draft of the Senate’s health care reform legislation.

“Under this concept states will be able to determine if the public option works well for them,” Reid said during a late afternoon press conference.
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Rockefeller: Senate Bill Will Include Public Option With Opt-Out Provision For States

Sen. John "Jay" Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) says he believes the merged health care bill in the Senate will include a strong public option, and says it will most likely contain an opt-out provision. (0:13)
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Public Option Will Not Put Private Insurance Companies Out Of Business

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.V.), who supports a robust public option, says a public option will not put private insurance companies out of business. He says a public option will only make insurance companies moderate their premiums. (0:19)
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If You're Against Public Option, You're For Status Quo Says Rockefeller

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) says if one does not support the public option, then one is supportive of the system we have now, or the "status quo." (0:16)
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Pelosi: A Robust Public Option Is The Best Option

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says during a press conference Friday that a robust public option is the best option for ensuring that healthcare reform produces competition in the insurance marketplace. However, Pelosi says that is not necessarily what will be in the House's health care bill. (0:15)
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Pelosi: House Has Flexibility On Public Option

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says that the inclusion of a robust public option is not the only way to pass healthcare reform. The Speaker says that conversations about the public option have begun to discuss weaker versions, noting that developments in the Senate to possibly include a public option have given the House more flexibility. (0:29)
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Senators Ask Reid For Public Option

Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT.) comment on the inclusion of a public option in the Senate's health care reform bill. Both Senators agreed that the option needs to be included to help promote competition, but they both also asked that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV.) include a state opt-out provision, as pushed by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY.). (1:00)
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