Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced Tuesday night that a consensus has been reached among moderate and progressive Democrats concerning the contentious public option to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590, currently being debated in the Senate.

"I asked Senators Schumer and Pryor to work with some of the most moderate and most progressive members of our diverse caucus, and tonight they have come to a consensus," Reid stated. "It is a consensus that includes a public option and will help ensure the American people win in two ways: one, insurance companies will face more competition, and two, the American people will have more choices."

However, the Senator was light on details regarding the agreement. "As is long-standing practice, we do not disclose details of any proposal before the Congressional Budget Office has a chance to evaluate it. We will wait for that to happen, but in the meantime, tonight we are confident," he said.

Amendments Debated

Meanwhile, this past week voting continued on various amendments to the bill. This Friday, Senator John Thune (R-SD)'s amendment was rejected. This amendment proposed to eliminate new entitlement programs under the proposed CLASS Act. The CLASS Act was authored by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and the late Senator Edward Kennedy. The act provides for a national, voluntary insurance program to help Americans pay for long-term care.

An amendment to the CLASS Act submitted by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to protect the Social Security surplus and CLASS Act was successful. Senator Patrick Leahy, who is keeping track of legislative activities, commented: "The CLASS program provides essential options for the 65% of those aged 65 and older who will need long-term services at some point in their lives, and for the 70,000 workers with severe disabilities who need daily assistance to maintain their jobs and their independence. The Congressional Budget Office determined that the CLASS program is actuarially sound."

On Friday Debbie Stabenow's (D-MI) amendment also passed. The measure ensures the bill would have no reduction or elimination of any benefits guaranteed by law to participants in Medicare Advantage plans. Stabenow stated in the Senate debate that no Medicare benefits would be cut. "We are not cutting any of the guaranteed Medicare benefits people receive right now. In fact, AARP, which has been saying this on its Web site for months, has released a letter now. It quotes this sentence: 'Most importantly, the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits.' What we are talking about is saving Medicare, cutting down on overpayments that have been in place...we are not continuing the overpayments in Medicare Advantage that are causing Medicare to go broke much sooner and causing the majority of seniors to subsidize high insurance company profits."

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