Democrats are optimistic that public option will be approved

Several Democratic senators have voiced optimism that Congress would pass a healthcare bill containing at least the germ of a government-run insurance program, the New York Times reports. The senators' remarks came after Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, told President Obama that he would try to press for a government-run insurance program. With five healthcare bills under consideration in both branches of Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already said that the House version of the legislation would include the public option, but other key senators have previously said it would be difficult to round up 60 votes needed to guarantee that the legislation would not be blocked by a likely Republican filibuster.