Woolsey introduces ‘Public Option Deficit Reduction Act’

Raw Story:

"On Wednesday, the first day of the 112th Congress, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced a measure to establish a robust public health insurance option as a supplement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The California congresswoman argued the measure would lower insurance costs and address deficit concerns, pointing to a Congressional Budget Office report saying it would cut the deficit by $68 billion."

While the provision -- controversial in Congress but popular among the public -- is extremely unlikely to gain any traction in the Republican-controlled House, it serves to illustrate flaws in GOP's budget-related arguments regarding repeal of the health care law.
Republicans have argued that the health reform law would explode the deficit, but the CBO has said it would do the opposite. The nonpartisan scorekeeper has also said repealing the measure would add $143 billion to the deficit.

A copy of the 17-page bill was provided to Raw Story [.pdf].