Pelosi: Health Care 'Public Option' Needs New Name

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Posted: 2:23 PM Oct 26, 2009 Pelosi: Health Care 'Public Option' Needs New Name House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says a government-sponsored public option for health care lives. But it may be going by a different name.

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SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says a government-sponsored public option for health care lives. But it may be going by a different name.

In an appearance at a Florida senior center Monday, the Democratic leader referred to the so-called public option as "the consumer option." Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, appeared by Pelosi's side and used the term "competitive option."

Both suggested a new moniker might get them past any lingering doubts among the public, consumers and competitors.

Pelosi says the term has been misrepresented and creates the impression that taxpayers will foot the bill for health care. Wasserman Schultz says she expects the speaker to give the new wording a test drive when she returns to Washington.

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