Schumer calls on Reid to include public option in Senate bill

Posted Oct 14, 2009, 8:24 AM PT by Jed Lewison • First broadcast: Oct 13, 2009

Transcript:

SCHUMER: I am very optimistic that we’re going to get a strong public option. The House is standing firm on public option. And I think all of those, when they saw the vote in the finance committee who thought, "Oh, it’s over," hadn’t really read the situation correctly.

STEWART: Well, how do you get it done? How does it end up in the final bill?

SCHUMER: Well, first, Leader Reid has the option of putting it in the final bill. If he puts it in the final bill, in the combined bill, then you would need 60 votes to remove it. And there clearly are not 60 votes against the public option. If — and so, we’re urging him to do that and he’s seriously considering it.

Once it passes the Senate, if that were to happen, it’s in the House bill, it’s in the Senate bill, and it would have to be in the final product. So, it’s very important to see if the public option is in the bill that Leader Reid puts together. He hasn’t yet made up his mind, but many of us who believe in the public option are urging him to do so. And so far, we’re getting — we’re getting heard.