Earlier today, Landrieu talked about working with Schumer and Carper on yet another iteration of a public option compromise, along the lines of his state-based triggered co-ops.
Schumer's spokesman flatly denied this, sending this statement:
"Since Leader Reid announced the opt-out public option would be included in the Senate bill, Senator Schumer has not approached anyone about compromises. He is fully behind the level playing field opt-out, which he himself helped advance."
--Schumer spokesman Brian Fallon
Just now, in the press availability following the vote, here's Harry Reid:
Q: Senator Lincoln today made it very clear that she's not going to support any kind of public option. Senator Lieberman has said the same. What do you see as the chances it will be in the final bill.
Reid: First of all, I support a strong public option. I welcome Senator Schumer, Landrieu and Carper, who Senator Landrieu said are working together to find a public option that is acceptable to all Democrats....
Q: Did you just say that you've tasked Senator Schumer, Carper and Landrieu or ...
Reid: No. It's my understanding that Senator Landrieu said today that she's working with Senator Schumer and Carper to come up with an alternative.
Interesting. Either someone is not being entirely truthful, or we have a major miscommunication in leadership. I've asked leadership staff for clarification and will report back when I've heard anything.
Update: Leadership staff declines to comment, but one Senate Democratic aide e-mails "As far as I know it's absolutely true that Senator Schumer has been having these conversations about a public option compromise well before we had this vote tonight."
Update 2: And Schumer's spokesperson, Brian Fallon, adds
Leading up to tonight's vote, some senators expressed a desire to discuss the public option currently in the Senate bill. Of course, Senator Schumer did not rule that out. But no such talks have yet taken place, and there is not any compromise at hand beyond what Leader Reid has already inserted into the bill. Senator Schumer remains a strong proponent of the opt-out, level playing field public option.
So both Reid and Schumer are strong proponents of the opt-out, but talks on further compromise continue. Meaning triggers are headed our way, unless the progressives take a very strong stand in committing to voting against them.
