Our report last week that the White House was trying to put the brakes on Sen. Reid’s efforts to put together 60 votes behind an “opt-out” Public Option generated an intense response from readers. And now at The New Republic, Jon Cohn has a late update, out just a few minutes ago, on what’s happening and what’s happened since our original report.
The White House has reacted strenuously, though not very specifically, to our report. They’ve even put up a post pushing back again Sunday evening on their blog. And Cohn digs into the backstory about what’s going on.
The White House still appears wedded to the belief that the Snowe/trigger path is the surest one to getting a bill to the president’s desk (though perhaps there’ve been some small signs of loosening over the last 48 hours). And they’re worried and/or skeptical that Reid’s plan, while perhaps better legislation in the abstract, will crash and burn before final passage. Whether that analysis makes sense or not, it’s the clearest explanation of all the facts. And a “senior administration official” told Cohn on Sunday that they’ll be with Reid “100 percent behind whichever direction [he] decides to go.”
Cohn’s piece is very good. Give it a read.
