There appeared to be serious consideration of a new proposal on the table: a national health plan similar to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan, which provides insurance to members of Congress and federal workers. It would be administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal plan, and all of the insurance options would be not-for-profit.
“So in other words, what we got is a national plan that the progressives would like, but that’s where that middle is, we’re trying to find that middle,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
The Hill saw it coming last Tuesday:
A new measure on the public option will be unveiled next week, which Senate Democratic leaders hope will break the logjam on healthcare reform.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who has been tapped by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to come up with a Plan B approach to the public option controversy that has divided Democrats, has been working closely with liberal and conservative Democrats, as well as Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
Olympia Snowe was part of the bipartisan group working on a public option compromise. Huffington Post:
She said that no agreement had yet been reached, but that the group was considering “another option,” aside from those already under discussion. An agreement had been reached that it would not be publicly discussed, she said, until more details were worked out.
After Obama’s meeting this afternoon with Senate Democrats, Lieberman was reportedly ecstatic that the president had not mentioned the public option. Huffington Post also noted the president hadn’t mentioned abortion:
Reid told reporters that Lieberman had approached him after the meeting to note the absence of the public option, but that folks shouldn’t read too much into Obama’s silence on the issue. “That doesn’t mean it’s not an issue, because the president didn’t talk about it,” said Reid.
Obama’s reluctance to stand up for the public option has been a source of contention between Reid, who is pushing for it, and Obama. Reid has asked five progressive senators and five conservatives to work out a compromise on the public option. The group will meet again Sunday afternoon, though without guidance from the president.
(W)orking Americans…will have the opportunity to purchase insurance through the health plan currently available to members of Congress. This new and separate insurance pool, known as the Congressional Health Plan, will provide affordable health insurance options that do not currently exist in the individual insurance market. But the plan does not eliminate existing insurance options: There is no requirement to participate in the new pool for those who choose not to do so. Taken together, the premium rebate pool and the new group insurance option will reduce premiums and provide health insurance for an additional 9 million Americans who currently lack health coverage. (Emphasis mine)
I have to say, this is a genius compromise. First, because it does away with the abortion problem — the “new and separate insurance pool” would already be covered under existing law. Second, because the system is already in place and the new plan could go into effect quickly. Third, it gives the few sane Republicans left some cover for a “yes” vote.
I expect the Senate Majority Leader will move this week. In the end, bipartisan + passes this week = final bill before Christmas and an 11-Dimensional Chess victory.
Call it whatever you want, but quit calling it ObamaCare. It’s KerryCare, and likely will bear Ted Kennedy’s name on it. Indeed, just dropping the name “public option” for this “new and separate insurance pool” will give Olympia Snowe and Joe Lieberman the illusory sensation of having nicked Teh Obamanon™.
And the mainstream media: where were they?
