From the Washington Times

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday sought to assuage the left wing of his Democratic Party by deciding to include a government-run insurance plan in his health care reform bill, bypassing the lone Republican who supported the effort and ensuring a bruising political battle in pursuit of President Obama’s top legislative priority.

In an attempt to gain pivotal support from moderate Democrats, Mr. Reid also said the bill he sends to the Senate floor will allow states to “opt out” of the insurance plan, also known as a public option. But moderates withheld their backing, waiting to hear more details.

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, the only Republican to vote for a Democratic reform bill in five congressional committees, said she was “deeply disappointed” with Mr. Reid’s decision and would not support the bill. She favored a plan to hang the threat of a public plan over private insurers to encourage them to lower costs, but not to include it in the initial health reform program.

Mr. Reid, of Nevada, offered few other specifics of his bill and declined to say whether he had the 60 votes required to overcome a Republican fillibuster.

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