We will not accept a weak public option or worse, a "trigger." We want a robust public option (based on Medicare rates, not negotiated rates) that is nation-wide (with no state opt-outs), administered by Medicare (not a for-profit insurance company) and available immediately.

Media should opt out of forwarding Lieberman's dubious public option claims

1 hour and 27 minutes ago — 8 Comments

Media outlets continue to uncritically report Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) statement that he will oppose cloture for the Senate health care reform bill because he believes the opt-out public option provision Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said will be included in the bill would increase the national debt and burden the taxpayers. However, while Reid's bill has not yet been released, every proposed bill with a public option thus far has required that those who enroll in the plan cover its costs through premiums, rather than have the plans be paid for through federal revenues.

More media outlets run with Lieberman's baseless claims

From an October 28 New York Times article:

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said he would vote to start debate and then join Republicans to fight the public option, which he said would become "another entitlement program that will end up increasing the national debt."

From an October 28 Wall Street Journal article:

Mr. Lieberman says he fears the public option won't be self-sustaining. "I think that a lot of people may think that the public option is free. It's not," Mr. Lieberman said. "It's going to cost the taxpayers and people that have health insurance now, and if it doesn't, it's going to add terribly to our national debt."