The Associated Press reports on a possible health plan "compromise" from Senate Finance that relies on federally-backed insurance cooperatives (co-ops).
But just a few weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) declared that Democrats view fed co-ops the same as a public option, government-run health care:
“We’re going to have some type of public option, call it ‘co-op’, call it what you want,” Reid said.
From a July 9 FOX News report:
Reid Says Co-ops Might Be Public Option
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, told reporters Thursday that a system of nonprofit cooperatives could pass as a “public option,” or government-run health care, depending on how they are set up.
“We’re going to have some type of public option, call it ‘co-op’, call it what you want,” Reid said, adding that Democrats are working on “some version of a co-op that may satisfy everyone.” [...]
The co-op plan, authored by Sen Kent Conrad, D-ND, is still being tinkered with, but, working with Sen Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and other Democrats, some changes have been agreed to — like a major infusion of federal dollars at the beginning and an initial governing board set up by the feds with federal involvement. One point of contention, however, has been how long government officials remain on the board. Conrad has contended that the board should eventually be run solely by participants. Schumer and others have sought a continued government presence, trying to create a quasi-public option.
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