In the House, it's building in a surprising place, and with some surprising folks. Yes, the Blue Dogs are splintering. And the most surprising comes from the doggiest of the Blue Dogs:
A key conservative House Democrat threw his support on Monday to a public health care option without a so-called "trigger" that could prevent it from being implemented.
"I'm for a public option. I like Chuck Schumer's approach. It does not have a trigger in it," said Rep. Jim Cooper (Tenn.), the vice chairman of the Blue Dog Health Care Task Force.
Of course, at the same time Cooper was spouting off to WaPo that "the draft by Kennedy aides and other ideas circulating among party leaders are unrealistically generous, while an employer mandate hurts workers and consumers." And the Schumer version of the public option has some critical kinks, particularly whether it could implement its inherent advantage of size to negotiate better prices and its lower administrative costs. But Cooper is on the record against a trigger, so we've made it that far in the public option battle in the House, and it's a key one.
Joining Cooper are Blue Dogs Jane Harman and Loretta Sanchez:
Harman, in a statement, said she supports a public option without a trigger. "I will oppose any plan that does not include this option, and am unwavering in my opposition to the so-called 'Blue Dog trigger,'" said Harman....
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), a Blue Dog who also signed the [HCAN trigger-free public option] pledge, told the Huffington Post she backs a public option without a trigger.
"America can't afford to wait for health care reform. While a single-payer system would be ideal, I am prepared to support other measures that also reduce costs, preserve doctor choice, and assure affordable, quality health care for all Americans," she said in a statement. "I think a public option without a trigger would be a good way to fix what's wrong with health care while preserving what works."
With Blue Dog leader Cooper and influential troops like Harman and Sanchez, along with a likely handful of others, opposing a trigger, the Blue Dog plan is likely to go nowhere. Lined up against it is the 80 member strong Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, as well. When it comes to numbers, Blue Dogs are outgunned.
There's a good news/bad news story in the Senate on the public option as well. Dem Mary Landrieu, who also took the HCAN pledge on health care is a no on the public option:
"I am not open to a public option, however I will remain open to a compromise - a full compromise," Landrieu told reporters Tuesday. "A public option is not something I support i don't think its the right way to go."
What "full compromise" in this context means in Landrieu's mind is anybody's guess, but I think Meteor Blades probably nails it in an e-mail: "It is when single payers and robust public option advocates drop to their knees and put their foreheads on the ground in front of the insurance companies and say 'your wish is our command.'"
Now the good news. A far more influential Senator than Landrieu in the health care negotiations clears up any misunderstanding on where he stands on a public option and Snow's trigger plan:
"There is a rumor making the rounds that Sen. Wyden supports the Snowe proposal for a public option "trigger." That rumor is false. It never happened and he has at no time expressed support for this idea....
"Senator Wyden’s Health Americans Act has for more than two and a half years contained a provision allowing states to pursue their own public option on "Day One." This happens to track the approach recommended by the Oregon Health Fund Board. His legislation would also require the Federal government to establish a public option in any state that lacked a variety of health plan choices equal to what Members of Congress currently receive. Both of these provisions, however, are a far cry from the Snowe proposal.
"With regard to a national public option, Senator Wyden has made clear that he is not wed to the approach he put forward in 2006 and is open to a national public option on Day One -- not requiring the Snowe "trigger" -- if it is accompanied by real reform that is responsibly and sustainably financed."
I spoke with Senator Wyden's Chief of Staff Josh Kardon yesterday, and he confirmed for me that Wyden is not going to stand in the way of a day one, national public option and that he remains open to to it "as one tool for addressing some of the most critical issues facing us in health reform, such as controlling runaway costs." The "responsibly and sustainably financed" part of the entire reform package will be the rub. Which is where the rub is for the entire nation, as DemFromCT's Hotline poll post demonstrates.
As a disclaimer, I worked for Wyden back in his House days. Wyden comes from a cautious, bipartisan standpoint. But he's also been committed to universal, affordable coverage with full access to care for as long as I've known him, now over 20 years. He has the potential to be an effective negotiator for the White House and the Dems with the handful of Republicans who are approaching this effort in good faith. But keeping him from allowing the cautious, bipartisan side from overwhelming "get the maximum out of this plan because you've got vast majorities of the American public behind you" side will be what activists continue to have to do with him.