Hoyer Floats Killing Public Option

Dissent in the ranks? House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters on Tuesday that a health-care package could pass without a public-insurance option, despite repeated insistence from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the public option was crucial to getting enough votes for the package. This is the second time Hoyer has floated the possibility of leaving the public option out. (The first time, he was shot down by Pelosi.) Rep. Hoyer says that, although he supports the option and considers it "vital," he wants to pass a bill improving the health-care system with majority support—and he hopes progressives don't follow through on a vow to sink the bill if the public option is eliminated.