EXCLUSIVE: Rangel: Robust Public Option Will Survive, Despite Waxman Deal

When Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., the powerful chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, stepped into the session of another powerful committee chairman, Henry Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the photographers went wild. The occasion of Rangel's visit was the ongoing mark-up of health care reform legislation.

Rangel's visit was no mere courtesy call; it was a signal to committee members that Rangel intends to make his mark on the final result of House deliberations, regardless of any deal that Waxman may have struck with conservative Blue Dog Democrats.

As I reported earlier today, Waxman made an accommodation with four of  the seven obstructionist Blue Dogs on his committee that analysts say will weaken the public insurance plan in the tri-committee bill that was passed by Rangel's committee, as well as the Education and Labor Committee led by George Miller, D-Calif.

When the session recessed for lunch, I caught Rangel in the hallway, asking him if he could assure AlterNet readers that a meaningful public insurance plan would be part of any final legislation that makes it to the House floor.

"In my opinion," he said, "we would be doing violence to the whole idea of health reform if we had close to $1 trillion out there in subsidy money to provide insurance for 50 million people, and not protect them against those people who are in this business for profit, and not wellness and health."

Yes, but will the final bill contain a serious public option?

"I wish I could say that there's no question in my mind," Rangel said, "but the bill that goes to the rules committee in the House, and the bill that passes the House of Representatives, will have a robust public health option.  It would not be reform without it."

Translation? Don't fret too much about what Waxman promised the Blue Dogs; it will get fixed when the bills from the different committees get reconciled in the House Committee on Rules.

Now, about that question in his mind. "So, the rest is on the Senate?" I asked.

The chairman smiled.

The Senate Finance Committee is said to be crafting a bill that contains no public insurance plan.