Reid, liberals huddle on healthcare

A group of Senate liberals met with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Monday evening to talk healthcare strategy in general -- and the public option in particular.

Though Reid has already announced the bill -- which could be unveiled as soon as Tuesday -- will insurance a form of government-run public option insurance from which states could opt out, a gang of liberals apparently needed reassurance and requested a sit-down with their leader.

Attendees at the meeting included Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Roland Burris (Ill.), Al Franken (Minn.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.). They met in Reid's Capitol office with the majority leader, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and FInance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (Mont.), whose version of the healthcare bill did not include a public option.

"It was about how we get everybody singing from the same page," said Schumer, who would not comment on the timing of the meeting or why liberal senators felt the need to discuss the public option even though Reid has declared his intentions.

Baucus confirmed the topic of the meeting was the public option but insisted, as he has all year, the Democrats are more committed to enacting healthcare legislation than any single issue. "They wanted to talk about the importance of the public option in the bill," Baucus said of the liberals, "but the main point is: we must pass health reform this year."