Dodd: Draft healthcare bill to drop this afternoon

A draft of a Senate bill to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system will be released this afternoon, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said Tuesday morning.

Dodd dropped a hint that the healthcare bill that’s been debated and negotiated by senators in the past weeks and months will finally make its principal public debut.

Dodd tweeted Tuesday:

We will release a draft of the health care reform bill later this afternoon.

Among other key aspects of the bill will be whether or not it includes a so-called “public option” (Republicans refer to it as a “government-run” plan) into which taxpayers can opt for their healthcare coverage.

Senate Republicans and some centrist Democrats have indicated that the inclusion of a public option could be a poison pill for the legislation’s ability to survive filibuster in the Senate.

Cross-posted to the Briefing Room