Democrats in the Senate seem to be on to an idea that may hold the key to the future of a Senate health care bill, an idea that involves getting rid of the controversial public insurance option.
The plan said to be taking shape in closed door negotiations would give liberals an expansion of both Medicare and Medicaid, to provide more coverage to Americans in need of health insurance.
At the same time, it would also allow for the sale of non-profit nationwide health insurance plans, which would be sold by regular insurance companies.
That and other changes are an effort to make it easier for liberals to accept the death of the public option, which is probably not going to be able to beat a filibuster in the U.S. Senate.
It could be that this is a trial balloon which might lay the groundwork for a final deal in the Senate, or it could be this is just another effort to reach such an agreement.
More talks are expected on Tuesday, as Senate Democrats will have their usual lunch time meeting, giving us a chance to question a number of Senators about the idea later today.
Some Democrats were saying that a deal will be struck today - or that the deadline from Sen. Harry Reid - is action on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Reid continues to take flak for a statement he made on the Senate floor on Monday, where he compared Republicans opposed to this health care drive to those lawmakers who opposed emancipation of the slaves.
Do I need to note that Democrats were the political party which was opposing freedom for the slaves back in the 1850s and 1860s? Do I need to note that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican?
Do I need to note that many Southern Democrats were supportive of the Dred Scott decision?
In other words, might there have been a better comparison to use?
(Reid's spokesman did not think so, calling criticism of his boss "feigned outrage.")
But that didn't stop Reid, who has the RNC Chief calling him "ignorant" and more, as this dustup could gain even more steam today, shifting some of the focus off the public option debate.
We'll see if the Senate Majority Leader backtracks at all on this Tuesday.
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