Rockefeller: Weak public option has 'no value'

Any watered-down version of the public option isn't worth the political fight to make it part of healthcare reform, according to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).

Rockefeller, who had been one of the most stalwart proponents of creating a government-run public option health insurance program, shocked liberals on Monday by declaring he did not support a growing effort by Democrats to revive the proposal.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Rockefeller explains that while his views on the benefits of the public option has not changed, he does not believe a strong enough program could survive in a final healthcare reform bill and thus argues that Congress should set the issue aside and focus on the private insurance market reforms contained in the legislation.

"I fought for a meaningful public option, both in the Senate Finance Committee and on the Senate floor. My version didn’t pass out of committee and other versions were watered down. Unfortunately, there simply has not been enough support to date to pass a strong public option, despite these efforts," Rockefeller said.

“I will continue to support viable options for enacting a robust public plan.  Right now, however, there is no value for the American people in diminishing a meaningful public option so substantially that it exists in name only."

Though supporters of adding the public option to the final healthcare reform bill, led by Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis  and Sen. Michael Bennet have garnered the support of 120 House Democrats and 23 Senate Democrats for their campaign, President Barack Obama declined to include the provision in the healthcare plan he issued Monday. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the president does not believe the public option can get enough votes in the Senate to pass, a sentiment echoed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

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