UPDATED Dodd opponents applauds Lieberman for opposing public option

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), who is considered the leading challenger facing Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) applauded his state's other senator for opposing the public option.

Today, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that he would vote against the Senate's healthcare reform bill, which includes a government-run public plan. Liberman, who caucuses with the Democrats, now leaves Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) at least one vote short of cloture on the bill.

Simmons tweeted:

Senator Lieberman is right to oppose the Dodd/Reid healthcare gov't option http://bit.ly/3augfS

Dodd participated in the healthcare bill merger process. He previously served as de facto chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee during the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-Mass.) absence due to illness. 

The HELP committee's bill included a public option while the Senate Finance Committee's did not.

"We’re trying to do too much at once,” said Lieberman today. “To put this government-created, government-run insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayer, for the premium payer and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”

UPDATED 3:18 p.m.

Ex-World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon (R-Conn.), another Dodd challenger, backed Liberman's decision. Her campaign tweeted:

Sen. Lieberman made the right decision opposing government-run health care.http://bit.ly/335syd #linda2010

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