The public option being proposed in the house bill is the version that the more conservative democrats prefer.
That means rates will be negotiated rather than be tied to medicare rates (plus 5%).
The CBO says that the House bill would reduce the deficit by more than $100 billion over 10 years, but I suspect that a stronger public option, tied to medicare rates, would keep prices down more effectively.
So I hope we can now stop the opposition from whining about how much health reform will add to the deficit.
It reduces the deficit.
Course, the last two estimates from the senate bill said the same thing and the whining didn’t stop.
But maybe the 3rd time is the charm.
Today we did get to see Ohio representative Dennis Kucinich get fired up.
And I appreciate that, Mr. Kucinich.
Well done Ohio.
A little about Dennis Kucinich.
Through his various governmental positions and campaigns, Kucinich has attracted attention for consistently and unabashedly delivering “the strongest liberal” perspective. This perspective and his actions, such as bringing articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Polls show increasing support for the public option.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/10/poll_support_gr.html
The image is from a Kaiser poll which shows support for the public option among doctors.
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2009/September/14/NPR-doctors.aspx