The Obama administration continues to face questions over its commitment to a public health option. This weekend, the White House suggested it could back the formation of private-sector options, such as insurance exchanges or cooperatives, instead of a government-funded program. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the administration still favors a public option. But he said its refusal to insist on the public option as a requirement for healthcare reform falls in line with previous statements.

Robert Gibbs: “We have a goal of fostering choice and competition in a private health insurance market. The President prefers the public option as a way of doing that. If others have ideas, we’re open to those ideas and willing to listen to those details. That’s what the President has said for months.”