Lieberman ‘Ready to vote for health care reform’

Protesters chant slogans urging Obama to enable passage of the Senate health care plan despite independent Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman's call for the axing of Medicare expansion, in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 15. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), told reporters on Tuesday that “the so-called public option government-run insurance plan is out.”

Reporters questioned Lieberman on the health care debate after the senator briefed them on the Fort Hood shootings investigations on Capitol Hill.

Lieberman, who is one of the key holdouts in the healthcare vote, acknowledged that he is “ready to vote for healthcare reform,” and with the elimination of the Medicare expansion “we’re heading in the right direction.”

Lieberman added that he supports the “basic, core bill,” and that his disapproval was of elements he said “were going to add to our debt, increase our taxes.”

In regards to the Medicare expansion to 55 to 65 year olds, he said he didn’t believe people could afford it, and it was “running a risk of losing everything.”

Obama’s healthcare reform bill has been wracked by debate between democrat and republicans. It needs 60 votes to pass and Lieberman’s vote is regarded as a key vote in its passing.

The Senate is in its third week of debate and is expected to vote soon. The decision to drop Medicare expansion may tip the scales in favor of the bill.

Lieberman was joined by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) who stated she is still unsatisfied with the current bill, saying “I’m still very concerned about the enormous cuts to our Medicare and what that would mean for the seniors.”

Collins added that she sees the bill being passed, although not in its current state.