The title says it all. This is a huge significant setback.
Boston Globe:
Liberal Democrats failed Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate Finance Committee, despite widespread accusations that private insurers routinely deny coverage in pursuit of higher profits.
The 15-8 rejection marked a victory for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee chairman, who is hoping to push his middle-of-the-road measure through the panel by week's end.
After all this, we're getting Baucuscare.
Discuss below.
EDIT: What is the likelihood that a bill without the public option will pass? Is it possible for a public option amendment to be inserted in the full Senate? If worse comes to worst, is it possible to defeat the bill and start over?