I doubt that the "public option" will pass with any healthcare bill.

[kentuck]

Several of the Senators that voted for the debate to continue will not vote to end the debate if it has a public option. We can expect that to happen.

However, once a bill is passed, any bill, it can be amended with a simple majority, is my understanding? The public option could be added later? In other words, the primary goal is to get a bill passed. It can be fixed further down the road.

[Cleita]

1. So basically, we are getting the same old health care except we get to pay

for it twice, first in taxes and then in premiums anyway. Way to go Democratic Congre$$!

[FrenchieCat]

3. It would be nice if we could miraculously get 60 to vote exactly how we want them to....

wouldn't it?

Too bad that ain't the reality of it, hey?

[BlooInBloo]

2. Takes 60 to remove it, once in, I think.

[harkadog]

4. An amendment is a new law.

It would take 60 to pass it.

[Cleita]

5. Here's a law to pass, majority rules. It takes 51 votes to pass a bill, period. n/t

[harkadog]

10. That wouldn't be a law.

That would be a Senate rule of procedure voted on by the Senate. Not much chance of it passing because of the Senate's respect for tradition.

[Cleita]

15. You mean the tradition where Bush's Senate was able to pass through

all the war legislation, Medicare disaster Part D etc. etc., with 51 votes that tradition?

[harkadog]

18. Democrats didn't filibuster those measures.

They voted for them, remember?

[Cleita]

19. My point, but I get the impression that they didn't dare because of either

blackmail or bribery. Certainly, we have some blackmail to hold over the heads of filibustering Republicans or bribery to grease their palms with, too?

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Yes, they can go back and fix it someday a few generations from now. (Assuming

health care reform continues to go at a snail's pace like it has since Teddy Roosevelt's day, anyway.)

[jefferson_dem]

7. I've said for months -

We will likely end up with a trigger...which will be met with all sorts of wailing and moaning on the hard left and the hard right. The reality is it will represent the most signficant health reform bill in a generation. The majority of the American public will approve of the landmark legislation and Obama will win re-election celebrating its benefits.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. The reality is that the "reform" as you describe it is not any reform at all.

Instead of the public option we were promised, let alone the single payer which makes the most sense, instead we get mandatory payments to the criminals who caused the problem in the first place, now enforced by law.

If I wanted that sort of "reform" I would have elected a Repuke like Romney. Or Hillary.

[jillan]

8. I wonder why these Blanche Lincoln types are against an opt-out?

[HughMoran]

11. She's a piece of shit no better than a Republican?

:shrug:

[Rowdyboy]

12. They've been modifying Social Securitry for 75 years or so....NHC will be the same

[Hamlette]

13. if they drop the PO seems to me they have to drop the mandatory provisions

otherwise it looks like a windfall to the insurance companies to me.

[27inCali]

14. yiou and me both sister

I don't think the Dems are looking to commit suicide though.

[ZombieHorde]

16. I believe if the Republicans pushed for a mandate without a public option

we would all be freaking out.

[Aramchek]

17. the Public Option will be in the Bill that Obama signs. guaranteed.