The Senate Finance Committee rejected amendments Tuesday that would add a government-run health-insurance plan to the committee’s health-care legislation, but debate over whether to adopt a public plan isn’t expected to end at the committee.
By a 15-8 vote, the committee rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller D., W.Va., that would create a public health-insurance option. Under Mr. Rockefeller’s amendment, a government-run plan would inherit Medicare’s network of doctors and hospitals and pay them based on Medicare payment rates for its first two years.
All Republicans on the panel voted against Mr. Rockefeller’s amendment, in addition to five Democrats: Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus of Montana, Bill Nelson of Florida, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Thomas Carper of Delaware.
via Senate Committee Rejects Public Option for Health Overhaul – WSJ.com.
public option
Gibbs insists Obama not backing off public option
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs insists the Obama administration has not shifted its goals on health care reform or distanced itself from a government-run public insurance option.