A key Senate panel on Tuesday voted against creating a new government health insurance plan to compete with the private market.Now, they're debating a Chuck Schumer amendment, a supposed conservative public option -- whatever that is. Update: Shumer's option also failed. Watch the Senators debate health reform:
The 15-to-8 vote in the Senate Finance Committee could forecast the fate of the public option in the Senate as a whole.
The outcome was expected but still a defeat for liberals who view government-sponsored insurance for the middle class as a key component of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. MSNBC
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