Harry Reid is holding a presser now announcing his decision on how to merge the two Senate bills. The main news is that it will include a public option with an opt out provision.
There’s still a lot to be sorted through here. Reid has apparently sent a number of alternative provisions to the Congressional Budget Office to be “scored,” i.e. the cost of the provision calculated. It suggests at a minimum that Reid is giving himself back up plans if he doesn’t get the votes on a public option. But interestingly, a public option with a “trigger” — supported by Olympia Snowe and reportedly by the President, too — was not sent to CBO for scoring.
