Blog - Reid Supports Public Option Reconciliation Plan

Has the final shoe dropped in the recent boomlet of enthusiasm for the public option?

Greg Sargent posts a statement from the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [D, NV] offering generic support for passing a public option through the Senate under reconciliation:

If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes.

Earlier today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius suggested that the White House would also back the effort if Reid would. So are all the pieces in place?

Not yet. As of today, the much-talked about public option letter only has 18 signatories, far short of the 50 needed.

Also, Reid’s statement seems painfully crafted to skirt responsibility for taking the lead on the public option. If Reid isn’t making the “decision” to use reconciliation and the White House isn’t, then who is?

It will be very interesting to see what impact, if any, this late burst of public option enthusiasm will have on Monday’s online unveiling of the White House health care plan and on Thursday’s health care summit.