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August 19, 2009

White House Defends Commitment to Public Option
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The Obama administration continues to face questions over its commitment
to a public health option. This weekend, the White House suggested it
could back the formation of private-sector options, such as insurance
exchanges or cooperatives, instead of a government-funded program. On
Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the
administration still favors a public option. But he said its refusal to
insist on the public option as a requirement for healthcare reform falls
in line with previous statements.

Robert Gibbs: “We have a goal of fostering choice and competition in a
private health insurance market. The President prefers the public option
as a way of doing that. If others have ideas, we’re open to those ideas
and willing to listen to those details. That’s what the President has
said for months.”



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