Senate Democrats close in on health reform votes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Democratic leaders are close to securing enough votes to advance a sweeping healthcare reform backed by President Barack Obama, a top Senate Democrat said on Sunday, adding that it likely would include a national health plan that would allow states the option of dropping out.
Senator Charles Schumer, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team, said he is pushing a compromise that would create a new national health insurance plan and allow states to opt out. The proposed public plan would compete on a level playing field with other insurers, he said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to produce a bill on Monday that will be sent to the Congressional Budget Office for an official cost estimate, an aide said.
Reid and other Democratic leaders have been talking with liberals, who want a strong public plan, and moderates who lean toward a less expansive government program and more state-level options.
They are testing the waters to see which version would win the 60 votes needed to advance controversial legislation in the 100-member chamber and hope to produce a bill this week that would then go to the Senate for debate.
“I think we’re very close to getting the 60 votes we need to move forward,” Schumer said in a NBC “Meet the Press” interview. “My guess is that the public option level playing field with the state opt-out will be in the bill.”
Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that he has not decided how he will vote. He said he favors more state control on healthcare issues and would prefer allowing states to “opt in” on any proposed new government plan.
“I think the states can make decisions on their own about their own citizens,” he said.
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