How many polls do we need before our representatives in Congress realize that the majority of Americans want a public option as a significant part of health care reform? No matter what you hear from conservatives on the hill, this part of Obama’s proposed reform remains very popular. The latest poll by The New York Times/CBS shows that 65% of Americans favor the creation of a “government-administered health insurance plan like Medicare that would compete with private insurance plans.”

The public option was supposed to come up for a debate today in the Senate Finance Committee, but was pushed back to Tuesday. Many argue that this committee will have the biggest influence and the final say on the eventual bill sent to the floor. The bill in its present form, written by Max Baucus, contains cooperatives instead, which progressives believe are too weak. The public option will be debated and offered as an amendment to the current bill. Many Democrats are still strong in support of its inclusion and are prepared to fight for it come Tuesday. Hopefully others will recognize the overwhelming support and come around as well because up until now, they have seemed more concerned with those who are funding their campaigns.