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In a press conference on Monday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced proposed health care legislation that included a public option. Ending weeks of speculation, the Democrat from Nevada explained his decision this week by stating, “I believe that a public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system.” Immediately after the announcement political focus turned to whether or not Reid would be able to convince enough Democrats in the Senate to support the public option inclusive plan. Senator Mary Landrieu expressed skepticism while her fellow Democratic colleague Ben Nelson would not indicate how he would vote on the Reid proposal. As a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll has shown increasing public support for the government-run option, its inclusion in Reid’s legislation contains a provision aimed at political compromise. Hoping to gain support in the Senate, the plan holds that individual states can utilize an “opt-out” clause that would allow for the public option to be optional.

GUEST: Laura Flanagan with Mobilization for Health Care for All

Find out more at www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org.