Four Senators have written Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) to ask him to bring a public option before the chamber via reconciliation, in a (very) late effort to revive the long-dead plan for government-provided health-insurance.
The foursome are, as HuffPo notes, an interesting mix — including progressives Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.), but also moderates Michael Bennet (Colo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), both of whom are facing primary challenges.
This strikes me as pure PR. The reintroduction of the most controversial aspect of Obamacare, under the most controversial legislative means of passing it, has a snowball’s chance in Vancouver right about now.
Though a Reid spokesman didn’t unequivocally shoot it down:
“Senator Reid remains a strong supporter of the public option, but it’s always a question of where the votes are,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley in a statement to HuffPost.