Brown allowed to cosponsor public option amendment

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) will be allowed to cosponsor an amendment requiring lawmakers to join the public option after all.

After Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) had sought to prevent Brown from signing on as a cosponsor to the amendment, which he crafted with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Brown tweeted Friday that he has, indeed, been allowed to join.

Brown tweeted:

Just left Senate floor. Now co-sponsoring amdt to require senators to enroll in public option.  Never before had fed govt insurane.

The GOP senators had offered the amendment, presumably, to force a tough vote for public option supporters, seeking to force them into the plan they ardently support.

Brown told The Hill on Thursday that he's proud of the public option, and is willing to support his colleagues' measure, regardless of whether or not it has partisan intentions.

"I’m proud of the public option, I think it would be great and we ought to join it and show the country how good it is," he said. "I think my interest may be more genuine than theirs, but I’d like to work with them if they’ll let me. If they just want to score partisan points, I still want to work with them.”

Brown followed up on Twitter:

Oops. Sent too quick. After bill passes, Connie and I look forward to enrolling in public option.  Best plan out there. Sherrod

Update, 1:41 p.m.: Coburn spokesman John Hart emails:

We’re delighted to have Senator Brown’s support of Dr. Coburn’s amendment, particularly after he voted against it in HELP committee.  We’re glad that he shares our view that members of Congress should lead by example and enroll themselves in the public option.

Cross-posted to the Twitter Room.