House Dem attacks Reid's healthcare plan

A leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus vowed Tuesday to fight a central part of the Senate's healthcare bill.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the co-chairman of the caucus of House liberals, pledged to fight an "opt-out" public option if it ever comes up for a vote in the House.

“No state should be able to restrict the health care choices available to its own people,” Grijalva said in a statement. “Anyone concerned about government overreach should look to the opt-out clause as a potentially serious setback."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has announced his intention to include an opt-out public option in his chamber's health reform legislation, having decided against a fuller public option as the House had passed, as well as a so-called "trigger," which some Senate centrists prefer.

Grijalva also announced that he would oppose a triggered public option should the conferenced version of House and Senate health bills include such a mechanism for the public plan.

The trigger concept widely discussed in the Senate is a back-door attempt to kill the public option and confuse voters,” Grijalva said. "A public option trigger cannot pass the House and will be fought by united voices around the country until it is defeated.”

The caucus leader's pledge will complicate negotiations on combining House and Senate bills, with Democratic leaders in both houses having to walk a fine balance to craft a bill that would win enough votes among their members.

Grijalva also joined with House liberals to oppose the amendment on federal funding for abortions, offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), that had been included in the House bill.

“I will join with many others in fighting to strip it during conference negotiations," Grijalva said.

---