Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday ordered Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to drop a proposal to tax health benefits and stop chasing Republican votes on a massive health care reform bill.

Huffington Post reporter Sam Stein is up with a piece on Senator Bernie Sanders’ and former DNC Chair Howard Dean’s criticizm of Rahm Emanuel’s comments on the trigger for a public option.

New study out disputing claims that a “pay or play” employer mandate in a national healthcare plan would cause massive job loss. The study suggests employer mandate could actually create jobs.

We’ve added Rep. Phil Hare to the “committed” category. Some surprising hold outs: Donna Edwards, Tammy Baldwin, John Conyers, Rosa DeLauro, Jay Inslee, Marcy Kaptur, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Markey, Jared Polis, Bobby Rush and Peter We

Whip It

Earlier today Joe over at AmericaBlog reported that Schumer practically guaranteed a public option as a part of health care reform during his appearance on Meet the Press this morning. This afternoon Senator Schumer told the AP he’s open to discussing other alternatives than the public option. Which Chuck Schumer should we belive?

We’ve added Tammy Baldwin to the “leans yes” category. Keep the calls coming folks, we’ve had very positive responses from Hill staff.

Based on Rep. Holts comments on Blue Jersey Radio last night we’ve moved him into the “committed” category (recording on the flip).

Lots of good feedback from FDL readers about what they’re hearing from the Hill on the public option. Keep it coming folks! Here is a sample of the kind of info we’re getting:

We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback from FDL readers about what they’re hearing from the Hill on the public option. Here is a sample of the kind of info we’re getting.

In this morning’s Washington Post Ceci Connolly is out with a piece highlighting the tension between advocates of the public option and centrist Democratic Senators who have decided to serve as a road block for health care reform: