Harry Reid Pushes for Govt.-Run Insurance Plan With Opt-Out Provision

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2:33 PM, Oct 26, 2009 • By JOHN MCCORMACK

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Politico reports:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will announce this afternoon that he plans to push ahead with a public option vote - most likely one that includes an opt-out provision for states - even though he's currently short several votes for passage, according to people close to the situation.

The Nevada Democrat has 3:15 p.m. press conference to discuss details.

Reid, who spoke with virtually every member of his 60-member caucus this weekend, currently has between 56 and 57 votes for a proposal to create a national insurance plan but allow states to opt out of it, according to Democratic aides.

A public option with a "trigger" - supported by the White House and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) - has between 58 and 59 backers. It could be floated as an alternative if the opt-out measure fails to obtain the 60 votes needed for cloture, sources said.