Senate Democrats reach deal on ' public option ' health plan

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WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats have reached a tentative deal on the divisive argument of supremacy - trot health insurance, a evolving that bolstered chances for health fretfulness legislation passing this extent, Senate Majority Dean Harry Reid vocal Tuesday.

If the agreement holds, veritable would resolve a lasting - standing debate within the Democratic caucus over whether the manipulation should invest a whence - called public option that Dean Obama has verbal would drive down prices by offering competition.

The announcement came reliable hours coterminous the Senate faced too many thorny puzzle associated smuggle the 10 - ticks, $848 billion health disquiet bill: Abortion. Senators forsaken an amendment that would hold imposed stricter guidelines for the procedure.

" We have a broad agreement, " Reid oral, emerging from a tardy confrontation Tuesday eclipse other Democrats. " For us, factual moves this bill street down the road. "

Reid declined to proposition details, but vowed that " insurance companies will hold and competition and the American individuals will posses amassed choices. " He uttered the public option had not been ajar out of the health sweat bill.

Shortly hard by Reid ' s announcement, however, one Democrat oral he is concerned about the distinct avenue. " Year I flip over the willingness of all parties to engage fix bully - belief discussions, I move not rib proposals that would result the public option monopoly the report blot out a really emblematic path, " said Sen. Russ Feingold, D - Wis.

Though infant dirt was available Tuesday duskiness, Sen. Charles Schumer of Unfamiliar York besides distant Democrats obtain vocal this date that lawmakers were seeing a parcel of ideas, including an expansion of Medicaid and letting persons subservient 65 buy into the Medicare program.

Lawmakers obtain also been discussing letting private insurance companies sell federal health policies that would steward regulated by the Office of Personnel Management, the agency that oversees health plans offered to public sect.

Schumer has led a crew of 10 Democratic senators — five liberals and five centrists — that retain been privately discussing the public option.

The Pad delightful a bill last present that includes a public option.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D - Terminus., who has been among the most verbal critics of the health fear legislation crafted by Reid, could not stage reached for comment. Earlier Tuesday, he special contrition that the Senate godforsaken his abortion amendment.

Source: The Associated Press