Vice President Biden reemphasized the administration’s commitment to the principle of the public option this morning on NBC, but said the White House is prepared to listen to alternatives. Obama is “willing to sign a bill by whatever mechanism you call it, that guarantees that there is a choice for people that is affordable,” he said.
Specifying that they are committed to “the underlying principle” of the public option, he said “[Obama] will not yield on the basic principle…if Americans cannot find affordable coverage, we’ll provide you with the choice. If there’s another way to do that, through a trigger as offered by one of our Republican colleagues…if you figure it out, that principle, he’s prepared to listen to the congressional approach. He did not take anything off the table.”
Biden also noted that the public option is competitive and would not be government-controlled, but rather privately run – “it would have to be paid for by its own premiums, just like the way insurance companies work. But if they have a better way to accomplish that principle, we’re prepared to listen to it.”
Watch the video after the jump.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
