By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Oct. 23, 2009 –The public option is starting to look good to the American public and  to lawmakers burning the midnight oil working on health care reform legislation. It looks like late night talks could bring the White House and senior Senate Democrats closer together on how to reform health care that includes a government run insurance program.

 Thursday night’s meeting ended with talk of health care legislation that would strongly consider a requirement for the federal government to compete directly with private industry in the sale of insurance.

This is exactly what Black lawmakers have wanted from the beginning and something President Obama said he “strongly supported” but wouldn’t require.  Following the summer town hall meetings were folks railed against the plan, the alternative proposed co-op by some Senate conservatives and flexibility of the presidents’ stand on the issue made it difficult to secure congressional support.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked Thursday about the possibility of a “state-based” public option gaining support.  Gibbs wouldn’t commit,  “Obviously we’ll continue to evaluate proposals as they come down the pike that are involved in the merged legislation as we go forward.”

But if individual states decided to “opt-out” that would create another set of circumstances – but it appears to be one of the options being discussed. 

But the first glimmer of hope for the public option came from Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson, (Neb) and Kent Conrad,(N.D)., when they told reporters they had heard private negotiations were considering the plan.

In recent weeks support for the public option has increased.  The Congressional Budget Office gave it a better score than the suggested co-operative plan and five of the proposed health care bills in the House and Senate committee have a public option.  

Opponents contend an affordable public option would drive private insurers out of business and be the first steps toward a government run health care system.  However supporters of the public options say if the insurance companies offer fair market prices there business will grow with an additional 40 million Americans entering the market place.

The president should put his full force behind the public option – the tide is turning and he should grab onto the wave.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Sept. 9, 2009 – President Obama may have used his strongest language to date outlining his plan for health care reform during his address to a joint session of Congress: but was it strong enough to get a bill that delivers true reform?

“But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it,” he pronounced.

Video: Watch the President’s Full Speech

“I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.”

Those are some of the strongest words the president has used in this debate. But the stakes were high tonight and the president wanted to make sure to link the economy and the importance of reforming what he called the status-quo.

The president said his plan will deliver on three major points. He said security and those who have insurance, insurance for those who don’t and to slow the growth of health care cost.

The president called on Republicans and Democrats to work together. He told his Democratic colleagues, “I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it.”

Adding the public option is “only a means to that end.” He also spoke directly to the Republicans saying, “That rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.”

“Well the time for bickering is over,” he insisted. “The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care.”

More on Health Care: Facts, Latest News and Stats

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