An amendment offered by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) adding a public option to the Finance Committee health reform bill has been defeated by a vote of 10 to 13.
Talking Points Memo provides some information on the amendment:
Introducing his public option amendment, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) cited many of the differences between his proposal and the more robust public option offered unsuccessfully by Jay Rockefeller: No providers would be forced to take public option insurance, and the government would not be allowed to set prices. These differences are crucial, and reformers don’t like them, but they do mean less government involvement and undermine the criticism of a number of conservative Senate Democrats. So let’s see how they vote.
Full text of the amendment can be read at OpenCongress.
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