Today's Washington Post reports on the high-level discussions underway to shape the health insurance reform bill in the Senate. There are four people in the room: Harry Reid, Max Baucus, Chris Dodd and Rahm Emanuel. Three ostensibly are on the record supporting the the public option:
In the sessions, Dodd in effect represents advocates of the government-insurance option and Baucus represents those less committed to that proposal. The tie-breaking votes are likely to be Reid and, on Obama's behalf, Emanuel. Obama and Reid have said they personally back the government-insurance option but have not ruled out supporting a bill that lacks such a provision.Four votes. Three on our side. Yet, only among Democrats in DC could this scenario work against us. There's strong public support. A majority of Senators support it. The president claims to support it.
Of course, Olympia Snowe might as well be there. Rahm Emanuel has put Olympia Snowe on a pedestal, instilling her with unprecedented power in this process. She wants the "trigger" gimmick so Rahm wants the "trigger" gimmick. Democrats and the public want the public option.
