On the Fence

Senator

Stance

Role in Debate

“There are various versions of public option being bandied about. [...] The long and short of it is, this issue is alive.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I just really don’t know [if a public plan can pass].”

“I want a public option, too!” (08/24/09)

“How you do it isn’t quite as important as the fact that you do it.” (09/10/2009)

“Some people argue that we should vote to go forward on a bill even if we don’t like it. [...] I’d like to move forward, but some of that’s going to depend on is it fiscally responsible.” (10/28/2009)

“I guess I don‘t want to put the word ‘public option.’ What I‘d rather say is that there‘s going to be some mechanism, I guess, at the end of the day to ensure that insurance companies are held accountable. … What I don‘t want to have happen is that the bill lives or dies by [the public option].” (09/10/2009)

“He is not committing to supporting a public option.” -Begich’s press secretary (09/02/2009)

“There may not be enough votes to get the bill [that includes Reid's version of the public option] off the floor and get us to conference.” (10/27/2009)

“I’ve got to see [Reid's 'opt out' proposal] in writing and have scores before I reach any judgment.” (10/27/2009)

“A public option tied to Medicare levels of reimbursement is a non-starter for me because I represent North Dakota.” (10/13/2009)

“I conveyed to Leader Reid that a number of moderates still were extremely concerned about a government-run, taxpayer-funded, national public plan. However, I am encouraged that the conversations taking place over the past week among Senators who back different versions of a public option could potentially lead to a compromise. I believe this compromise should happen sooner, rather than later, so we can get to work on other critical aspects of heath care reform.” (10/23/2009)

“We’re not trying to be Republicans…but we do believe in the free market.” (10/23/2009)

“I’m not right now inclined to support any filibuster.” (10/20/2009)

LeMieux stressed that he had ‘serious concerns’ about the latest health care reform proposal being pushed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, ”specifically highlighting $400 billion in cuts to Medicare funding.” (09/17/2009)

On whether there’s any wiggle room in his commitment to filibuster a public option: “I don’t feel like wiggling.” (11/10/2009)

Lieberman said he was “inclined to let the motion to proceed” (or cloture) go forward, but “I haven’t decided yet.” (10/15/2009)

“I’ve told Sen. Reid that if the bill stays as it is now I will vote against cloture.” (10/27/2009)

“There are many ways to provide greater options and choices to individuals, including non-profits, a state plan, and a co-op plan. … We already have an employer based, private health care system. We are trying to make it more affordable for everyone. We can’t just throw it all out and start over, but we can make it more efficient and more affordable for everyone.” (10/18/2009)

“Senator Lincoln has not committed her vote to anyone, she will have to see the legislative language and cost first and will evaluate it based on its impact on Arkansans.” (Lincoln spokeswoman) (10/26/2009)

“I think there is a legitimate argument for giving the states an option to solve this problem, which is essentially an insurance problem.” (10/06/2009)

“What was interesting in the poll numbers that I saw, that while there’s support for public option generally, generically, when you start talking about it specifically as it relates to states being able to opt out or opt in, have their own, the support overwhelmingly goes up to 76 percent.” (10/20/2009)

“I like the opt-out provision, at least what I know about it so far.” (10/28/2009)

“I don’t think you’ll see me or any other Democrats [filibuster a health care bill].” (10/15/2009)

“The truth is, I think, for folks who really know what the public option is, they get more comfortable with it. I think originally some folks branded it as just a government takeover of health care and that’s not what it is.” (10/27/2009)

“I don’t support [an opt-out public option]. … I’ve said, I’m against a public option. … It would be difficult [to vote for cloture on a public option].” (10/22/2009)

“I am deeply disappointed with the Majority Leader’s decision to include a public option as the focus of the legislation. I still believe that a fallback, safety net plan, to be triggered and available immediately in states where insurance companies fail to offer plans that meet the standards of affordability, could have been the road toward achieving a broader bipartisan consensus in the Senate.” (10/26/2009)

Likely Supporters

Senator

Stance

Role in Debate

“If the insurance companies are satisfied with this bill it’s not a good bill.” (09/03/2009)

“First of all, I think it’s important that people who are satisfied with the health plan they have know that they can keep that coverage.” (08/21/2009)

“The public option should be one of a variety of choices for people who want improved coverage.” (08/28/2009)

“I am also open to considering a non-profit co-operative model, as long as it can accomplish the critical goal of controlling premium costs and spurring competition.” (08/28/2009)

“The vast majority of the Democratic caucus is for the public option that is in the HELP bill. Should the 52 give in to the five, or should the five come along with the majority?” (10/16/2009)

“Majority Leader Reid is taking the gutsy and appropriate road in fighting for the right policy, something the American people want and an issue on which every Senator should be held accountable. That’s why I voted for it in the Finance Committee and why I’ve advocated for it since day one.” (10/26/2009)

“I think there’s a chance that we’ll have some kind of public option. But it probably will be a very moderate program that will be severely limited in terms of its ability to grow … and who can access it.” (10/05/2009)

“I can’t support a bill that will allow the public option to become the public mandate.” (08/31/2009)

“If it’s constrained, I’d vote yes.” (08/31/2009)

“We need a public option to increase competition, keep insurers honest, drive down costs.” (09/29/2009)

“I support the President’s vision of a public plan.” (09/09/2009)

“I have come down on the side of voting for the Schumer [public option] amendment,” Nelson told the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 29.

“[Public option advocates] don’t have a clue” about the logistics of a public plan. “The whole thing is so complicated you can’t expect them to understand. … If a co-op serves the same purpose, what’s the big deal? … You can’t get 60 votes in the Senate [for a public option]. I’m trying to get something passed.” (09/16/2009)

“He’s keeping an open mind on co-ops, public options and other possible proposals, but believes there aren’t enough votes in the Senate to pass a public-option plan,” a Nelson spokesman told TWI on Sept. 17.

“[Co-ops] could be a fallback position if we cannot muster the support for the public option as it’s come out of the committee. I hope we can muster the support, though.” (07/25/2009)

“But there are many ways we can do it. One would be to have an entity like Medicare. I really don’t favor that. I think what we should have is a private entity that has direction from the federal government.” (08/28/2009)

“Reid continues to believe that at the end of the day, some form of a public option that creates competition and lowers costs for consumers will be included in any Senate proposal.” (Reid office statement) (10/05/2009)

“I am a strong advocate of a public option. I think that is one mechanism to keep the private insurance companies honest. If you’re serious about cost containment you have to do that and so my strong hope and expectation is there will be a strong public option in any health care bill that is passed.“ (08/17/2009)

“I have faith in Harry Reid to get the 60 votes.” (10/27/2009)

“I personally don’t particularly like the trigger, particularly if its three years or four years down the road. It depends on how you set up the trigger, but [if] your measure is concentration in the insurance industry and the lack of competition as a result of that concentration — we’re there already.” (09/09/2009)

“I think the likelihood is there are 50 plus votes among the Democrats in the Senate to have a robust public option, without an opt out, with a trigger, without any condition.” (10/22/2009)

“[The public option] is only a part of reform. It is an important part. Those of us on the inside are looking at what we can do and looking at the votes.” (08/18/2009)

“I don’t need [the public option] either way. I could either support it or not support it. It’s all in the design.” (08/26/2009)

“I want to make sure there are some competitive alternatives to the insurance companies. But I’m concerned that simply expanding Medicare and Medicaid without getting the financial incentives right — it’s going to again end up driving up the deficit costs.” (08/24/2009)

“When you have a prestigious medical organization like Mayo Clinic saying that they could accept a public option if it was like what members of Congress get … that’s a real breakthrough.” (09/22/2009)

Likely Opponents

Senator

Stance

Role in Debate

“Let’s do it step-by-step. Let’s don’t try to change the whole system at once.” (09/06/2009)

“The only bipartisan thing about this whole bill is the opposition to the plan.” (09/09/2009)

“We will see if Congress and the Obama administration … continue to ignore the will of the people in an effort to force their liberal agenda down our throats.” (09/09/2009)

“I am willing to entertain [the co-op proposal.] However, if these co-ops are financed or run by the federal government, then they are no better than the public option and are just federally run health care under a different name.” (08/18/2009)

“Is it efficient to care for the people in Northwest Arkansas by sending money to Washington … or could you as a community figure out a way to do it better, which by the way is constitutional? … There is no compassion in any government program.” (09/06/2009)

“The problem with the trigger is it just delays the public option.” (09/08/2009)

“Any Republican now that helps them pass a bill is helping them pass a government takeover of health care.” (08/17/2009)

“I hope people don’t politicize Sen. Kennedy’s death and use it to pass a bill.” (09/25/2009)

“I can count votes, and I know that a government-run plan will not pass in the Senate.” (08/19/2009)

“The public option has been roundly rejected by the public. The public is smart.” (10/26/2009)

“I see [co-ops] as an opportunity to enhance health-care competition — just as cooperatives do in other areas of the economy.” (08/18/2009)

“We shouldn’t push [those 170 million Americans who already have health insurance] into a public plan by creating a system which basically disincentivizes their employers to give them health care.” (10/28/2009)

“Sooner or later they’re going to do away with the private insurance market, which would be a catastrophe.” (08/26/2009)

“We can stall it. And that’s going to be a huge gain for those of us who want to turn this thing over in the 2010 election.” (07/22/2009)

“I agree that states should have the option to opt in. But I don’t even know if they have this provision written yet. I certainly haven’t seen it.” (10/27/2009)

Kyl’s office (in response to preceding quote): “Today’s report in The Hill regarding Senator Kyl’s position on an ‘opt-in’ for a government insurance plan is inaccurate. His statement was taken completely out of context, and he, along with every member of our caucus, does not support a government-run insurance plan in any form. Everyone who has been following this debate should know Senator Kyl has been leading the charge against a government takeover of our health-care system.” (10/28/2009)

“A government takeover on the installment plan — or a ‘trigger’ as some are calling it — is still a government takeover.” (09/09/2009)

“I think that conventional wisdom is that a public option doesn’t have the support, and will not pass through [the Finance] committee.” (09/11/2009)

“The President continues to promote the false choice of a complete government takeover or doing nothing.” (09/09/2009)