Public Option Headed for Senate Death

Staff / Truthdig Jul 29, 2009 Looks like the insurance companies are getting what they've paid for in the U.S. Congress. The Senate Finance Committee is closer to a deal with Republicans, which means no public health care option. The Blue Dogs, meanwhile, are still nipping at the heels of House Democrats. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sebelius Talks Health Care on ‘The Daily Show’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 16, 2009 Jon Stewart interviews Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on health care reform. She's pushing for a public health care option and looking to change this "unsustainable, unconscionable, unacceptable " system. Check out this clip from last night's "Daily Show." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

House Plan Taxes the Rich to Insure the Poor

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2009 Nancy Pelosi and her fellow progressive Democrats in the House have opened a can of health care whoop-ass that's sure to drive Republicans and conservative Democrats nuts. The House bill, unveiled Tuesday, would tax the rich and businesses that skimp on health care coverage, provide a public option and require everybody to be covered. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Progressives Flex Health Care Muscle

Staff / Truthdig Jul 8, 2009 The progressive Democrats in Congress have had just about enough of all this bipartisanship, especially if it means scrapping a public health care plan Rahm Emanuel recanted his hint of compromise to a room full of hopping-mad House liberals Tuesday night Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made it clear that losing a public option was a deal-breaker for 10 to 15 Senate Democrats. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Still Backs Public Option

Staff / Truthdig Jul 8, 2009 Rahm Emanuel may think his boss is open to alternatives, but the president released a statement Tuesday reaffirming his support for government-run health care. A separate e-mail from Obama's permanent campaign, Organizing for America, urged supporters to write their local newspapers and lobby for health care reform that includes "the choice of a robust public insurance option." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Public Option in Critical Condition

Staff / Truthdig Jul 7, 2009 President Obama and most Democrats see a government-run health plan that competes with private insurers as vital to real health care reform, but a veto- and filibuster-proof majority just ain't what it used to be. In the face of a massive lobbying effort, the White House has indicated a willingness to shelve the public option. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Public Option or Bust

Staff / Truthdig Jun 24, 2009 Health care reform is shaping up as astronomically expensive, but that's only if private insurers and Big Pharma get their way, writes Clinton-era Labor Secretary Robert Reich. Without competition from the government -- a public option -- the health care industry will continue to gouge and Americans will still be in the weeds, a trillion dollars poorer. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )