I think ultimately the public option will be part of the health reform bill, especially if moderate democrats say they would vote for a bill that has a public option provided costs are tightened.
Everyone likes to beat up on the moderate democrats but the public option isn't the end-all to cutting costs. It's not unreasonable to ask for more cost cutting measures:
Even as President Obama seeks to answer Republican critics of his health care overhaul plan in Wednesday night’s address to a joint session of Congress, he has yet to close the sale with moderates in his own party.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, a pro-business Democrat and former governor, said he would agree to a government-run insurance option favored by the White House — the so-called public option — only if the legislation would bring health care costs under control and promote competition.
“If we do nothing, Medicare and Medicaid costs are going to continue to explode, and it’s going to blow up the federal deficit,” he said.
Before the August recess, uneasiness among moderate Democrats emerged as three House panels raced to approve a bill. Now Senate moderates are looking to the president to explain how the legislative plan will rein in costs and keep from expanding the deficit.
Mark Pryor of Arkansas, who typically seeks to find the middle ground on issues, said Obama needed to address the budget implications of an overhaul. “It is a very difficult budget environment right now,” the second-term senator said, adding that people want a health care overhaul crafted “in such a way that it doesn’t break the bank.”
Mark Begich of Alaska said he, too, was concerned about the cost. “I want to hear the financial issues around it — how’s it being paid for, what are his thoughts there, how he views the public option and those issues — but really a lot about how he’s going to pay for it.” CQ Politics
