Disappointments

Robust Public Option Won't Pass House

But public plan isn't dead yet.

Congress was busy Thursday night: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) counted votes overnight but ultimately decided she doesn't have the votes to pass a "robust public option," the most aggressive of three possible bills that include a government-run insurance plan, Politico’s Mike Allen reports. That doesn't mean the public option is dead yet. Evidently, during a Thursday night meeting with Democratic Senate leaders, President Obama indicated that he favors the trigger option suggested by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Under that plan, a public option wouldn't kick in immediately, but could be triggered by insurers' performance. The trigger option has legs in the Senate, because it could attract moderate Democrats.