The Senate Finance Committee’s ranking Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, second from right, makes a point as he talks about the public option during the markup of health care legislation, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington. From left are, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Wash., Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Sen Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Grassley, and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
BREAKING NEWS:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Finance Committee has voted against creating a new government health insurance plan to compete with the private market.
The 15-to-8 vote could forecast the fate of the public option in the Senate as a whole. The outcome was expected but still a defeat for liberals who view government-sponsored insurance for the middle class as a key component of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Five committee Democrats, including Chairman Max Baucus, joined with all 10 committee Republicans to defeat the measure by Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.
Opponents said a public option would drive private insurers out of business and amount to a government takeover. Proponents said it would give consumers choice and competition.
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