Senator: Public Option Close to Gaining Enough Votes for Passage

New York Senator Chuck Schumer (D) said today that a proposal for a "public option" to be included in the ongoing health care reform efforts is gaining steam.

The proposal would include an opt-out clause for states who choose not to participate in a public option, according to Yahoo.com. Senator Brian Nelson of Nebraska (D) ,who has objected to any government-run insurance program, has said that he would be interested in what he calls the "opt-in program." "I think if you go with a state-based public option, you can get bipartisan support," Nelson said. "I think we're all more comfortable, the people will be more comfortable if the states are engaged in taking care of the situation, recognizing that Utah's problems and California's problems are different than Nebraska's problems."