The hotly contested "public option" for health care coverage is up for debate on Capitol Hill next week. Some say it's essential for reform while others, such as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, say it's not critical. Sebelius said last month that the public option was “not the essential element” of the president’s health care plan.
For a closer look, we talk to Xavier Becerra (D-California), Congressman from California and the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. (click through for the full interview transcript)
"I believe the president is fighting hard to get reform passed, but he himself has said, to make this meaningful reform, you have to include competition that will give people choices and keep costs down. You can’t do that if you don’t have, inserted into this reform, a real plan that will compete and force others to compete to try to get business from the consumer at the best price." — Xavier Becerra (D-California), Congressman from California and the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus
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