Gov. Strickland would not want Ohio to refuse public option

CLEVELAND (AP) — A spokeswoman tells a newspaper that Gov. Ted Strickland would not want Ohio to opt out of any new government-run health insurance program.

A health-care proposal offered by U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid would include a government-insurance option, but states could choose to say no thanks. Reid is trying to win support for a public option from moderates in his Democratic party, in the face of strong opposition from Republicans.

Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst tells The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that the Democratic governor believes a government-insurance option would be good for working Ohioans, so he sees no reason for the state to opt out.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio says he thinks most states would want in.