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Finance Panel Defeats Rockefeller Public Option Proposal

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted 15-8 against an amendment by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to add a public insurance option to Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) $900 billion health care reform package.Five committee Democrats joined all 10 Republicans in voting no.The Finance panel immediately moved to consider a second public insurance option amendment, this one offered by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). The Schumer proposal is also expected to fail when a vote is held later Tuesday.The Democrats voting against the Rockefeller amendment included Baucus and Sens. Tom Carper (Del.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.).

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