Hoyer: could back health bill without public option
House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)(L-MD) speaks at a press conference in Washington, March 18, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Joshua Roberts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday he could back a bill to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system without a so-called public option that would create a government-run insurance program.
Hoyer reiterated his support for a public option, but said he believed meaningful legislation to expand coverage could pass without it.
Hoyer's comments came a week after the top House Democrat, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said real change would require a public option, which Republicans, insurance companies and some centrist Democrats oppose. She also predicted that a healthcare bill without a public option would not win House passage.
(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro and Editing by Sandra Maler)
