Breaking: According to Ben Nelson, the WH is leaning towards a public option with the opt out provision. Reid/WH leaning toward public option with opt out
AND
In an off-the-record chat this week with a bunch of Progressives, apparently President Obama met with Olbermann/Maddow/Rich/Herbert/Dowd/Seib/Robinson/Dionne/Ifill and Borger
Obama meets with Progressives AGAIN
President Obama apparently met with a host of progressive hosts and columnists this week, along with Maureen Dowd. The meeting was off the record, but it comes at a time that Healthcare Reform and Afghanistan are reaching inflection points.
There's no immediate detail that has been discussed, but I'm assuming he's trying to get them on board. Olbermann is a new addition to the group, and I believe that's why he was quoting last night that Healthcare Reform is a work in progress not an end point.
Methinks he's preparing to get slammed in the event there's not a robust public option. I don't think that's going to be in the final bill. At best, we'll get something like Schumer's level playing field option with an opt out provision.
Anyone have any other thoughts as to what they discussed?
UPDATE: As I noted above, the Public Option looks to be an opt out version, but we'll see what's going on.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the White House are leaning towards including a national public option -- with a provision for states to opt out of it -- in the Senate health care bill, Sen. Ben. Nelson (D-Neb.) said Thursday.
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) briefed Nelson and other Democratic centrists on Thursday morning.
"I keep hearing there is a lot of leaning toward some sort of national public option, unfortunately, from my standpoint," said Nelson, a key swing senator. "I still believe a state-based approach is the way in which to go. So I'm not being shy about making that point."