Sen. Mary Landrieu is one of the key centrist Democrats in the Senate President Obama may need to pass any major health care overhaul. Previously, Landrieu has said that the inclusion of a government-run insurance option in any health care bill is likely a deal breaker for her. However, Landrieu is indicating now that she may be open to supporting a bill that includes a "trigger" mechanism that creates a public option only in the event private insurers fail to provide affordable coverage on their own over the next several years. Politics Daily is reporting Landrieu is one of several moderate Democrats meeting with the President today to discuss the trigger option, among other details.
Politics Daily has learned that moderate Democrats, including Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Lousiana, are meeting Thursday with Obama at the White House. About 15 of them met Wednesday with Rahm Emanuel, the president's chief of staff.
Sen. Landrieu was not completely won over, but she did say 'he made a legitimate effort to say, 'Let's try to find common ground.' That is what we're sent here to do. That's what the American people want us to do. And we owe it to them to make our best effort.'
In terms of what she can vote for in the future, Landrieu said tonight the idea of a trigger option, which has been floated recently, 'might be something we can work with,' adding, 'We need more clarity, but it's a start.'