Couldn't the public option be added later via reconciliation?

[CTLawGuy]

It seems to me it would be easier to add the public option later by itself. It wouldn't require a major change in the structure of the exchange, all the PO is is an option within the exchange. It is a budgetary matter, as it has to do with collecting and paying government money.

It might be limited to ten years of existence, however. If I remember correctly, the Bush tax cuts were passed by reconciliation and that is why they are going to expire next year. Then we would have ten years to make the PO permanent by replacing bad dems and repubs with dems who support the PO.

Am I missing something?

[BobRossi]

1. Yeah, maybe Santa will bring it.

Just keep up the "Hope", it's worked so well so far.

[dkf]

2. Obama would still have to sign it

He never really wanted it after all.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. There is a public option in the house bill...

It could be left in the Conference Committee Report that combines the bills. But, a public option will possibly not pass the Senate Threshold of 60 votes to keep the party of no from filibustering the bill.

In a simple majority vote, the public would be there. But as long as 60 votes are required before you give the bill a simple up or down vote, there will be no public option.

The Senate could also do a reconciliation bill, and write a bill that would just be a public option to update the Health Care bill. That could not filibustered, but it is not going to happen in an midterm election year.

[martymar64]

4. It or expand Medicare or Single Payer could all be added via reconciliations bills

The question is, do the Congresscritters have the political will to do it?

Since the Democrats are still acting like a minority party, I don't think they have the stones to carry it out.

[andym]

5. I think it may be attempted

or even more likely the Medicare buy-in (which came within one senator of being included). But we will need ALOT of pressure from the public to get it.

Continuing to voice dissatisfaction with the bill will help.