Frank: Public option doesn't need 60 votes

The public option doesn't necessarily need 60 votes to pass, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) reminded us this week.

The Senate requires 60 votes to end debate and proceed to vote on a bill, but only a simple majority to actually pass.

"It is conceivable that some Democrats, for example, would vote to break the filiubuster who would then vote against the bill," Frank told Joy Behar on Headline News. "There may be some Democrats willing to do that."

So is that a conceivable scenario? (Keep reading below.)

Based on this interview with Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), the answer seems to be yes.

Asked whether any Democrats would vote to uphold a filibuster, Pryor seemed skeptical.

"I don’t want to say no, there's no chance, because something could be added that could just be completely objectionable," he said. "[But] I don’t think you’ll see me or any other Democrats do that."