By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 24, 2010 – Liberal Democrats had hoped to hold out and revive the fading future of the public option as part of overhauling health care reform; but it’s become more evident in recent weeks the public option is no longer viable.

In the summer of 2009, the debate at town hall meetings all but eroded the support among moderate Democrats and sealed the objections of Republicans. During the Senate negotiations, while crafting their version of the bill, the public option was not included, leaving it only in the House bill.

The Hill newspaper is reporting the Senate only has the support of 25 members, a far cry from the 50 votes needed.  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed for reporters during Tuesday’s briefing the president wasn’t including it because it doesn’t have the votes.   

“We have seen, obviously, that though there are some that are supportive of this, there isn’t enough political support in a majority to get this through,” Gibbs said.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been staunch supporters of the public option.  Last year members sent a letter to the president and have continued to push for the inclusion of the public option.

“We must have a public health plan along with the private ones. Without a robust public plan, there is no guarantee of change, no guarantee of lower rates and no inclusion for all,” Del. Donna Christensen, (D-Virgin Islands) said in September 2009.

Christensen, a practicing physician and the caucus’ health care policy chair, has told me on several occasions without a public option there is no reform.  “We are determined to see that our health care system is not just reformed, but transformed,” she has said throughout the debate.

I will be checking to see how Black lawmakers respond to the plan the president presents to open discussion on Thursday that will not include a public option.

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 Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

Sept. 11, 2009 — The President hit a home run [Wednesday] last night.

President Obama said exactly what proponents of meaningful health care reform — including myself — needed, expected, and wanted him to say. The time for bickering, myths, and flat out lies by those who want to block reform is over. We will move forward with health care reform and get it done this year.

What most impressed me about the President was his demeanor. He came there as Barack Obama the educator, explaining clearly both the need for health care reform and the specifics of our proposal. He presented a strong case for reform, and he spoke directly to the American people, outlining the benefits of health care reform both for those who are currently covered and those who are uninsured.

He stood there — amid cheers from most of us and unfortunately also unprecedented jeering and outright disrespect from some on the opposite side of the aisle — to reaffirm core principles, to debunk rumors, to reclaim the debate, and to spur us to act once and for all to fix America’s broken health care system.

I have been outspoken about the need for credible health care reform that covers all Americans, maintains quality, lowers costs, and holds insurance companies accountable. And I believe the best way to accomplish those goals is through a government run public option that will compete with the private insurance companies, the operative word here being option.

My vision for meaningful health care reform is also shared by the President and many of my colleagues in Congress. Though the President stopped short of saying that the public option was essential to achieve health care reform last night, he did reiterate his support for it and his belief that it is a means to an end.

The public option will help us achieve the kind of health care reform that will cover the uninsured, lower costs for the insured, and bring more security and stability to American families and businesses.

Republicans have rejected President Obama’s repeated offers to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. They have continued to say “No” throughout this process, just like they said “No” to the economic recovery package, to energy and climate change legislation, and to providing health care to uninsured children.

The President, despite his best efforts, is not going to get the support of the Republicans on health care reform. They are determined to play politics instead of helping the people they serve and prefer to defeat reform in order to wound the President.

I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that politics does not trump public policy. We cannot allow health care reform that will benefit all Americans to be derailed. Reform will make us healthier and our economy stronger.

As I have said before, if we fight for what we believe in, if we fight for our principles, we can win. Most importantly, it will be a win for the American people.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Aug. 23, 2009 – It’s about time President Obama took on his critics and the leadership of getting health care reform back on track.  But is it too late?

On Saturday Obama’s radio address sounded like he had finally had enough.  “This is an issue of vital concern to every American, and I’m glad that so many are engaged,” Obama said during his radio and Internet address Saturday.

“But it also should be an honest debate, not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions, spread by the very folks who would benefit the most by keeping things exactly as they are.”

It could be too little too late, but with the president putting his full force behind myth-busting, it could pay dividends.  Obama is still the best sales man and marketing tool for the legislation and Democrats in congress need his leadership going forward. 

Obama hit on three of biggest myths being circulated by opponents.  First,  tax dollars would not be used to cover illegal immigrants; there will be no government takeover of health care; and there are no so-called death panels.

“As every credible person who has looked into it has said, there are no so-called death panels — an offensive notion to me and to the American people,”

 ”These are phony claims meant to divide us.”

But the biggest hurdle for Obama’s plan to overhaul health insurance is still the public option.  An option the president has maintained is needed to keep the insurance industry honest and make sure everyone who wants insurance can afford it.

“This is one idea among many to provide more competition and choice, especially in the many places around the country where just one insurer thoroughly dominates the marketplace,” Obama said. “Let me repeat: It would be just an option; those who prefer their private insurer would be under no obligation to shift to a public plan.”

I’ve been through the all the bills congress is floating around and I can’t find any of the alleged wrongs the Republicans say are in the bills.

This would be a good time for Republicans to bring forth their ideas and proposals that would solve the problems for the 46 million uninsured, 26 million under-insured and the 14 million who are paying premiums out-of-pocket. 

Republican Rep. Tom Price’s (Ga.) rebuttal to the president’s remarks called for the whole plan to be scrapped and for lawmakers to start over. That’s from someone who has great health care at the taxpayer’s expense.