President Obama has announced plans to deliver an address on healthcare reform before a joint session of Congress next Wednesday. The news comes amidst reports the White House has privately revived a plan that would “trigger” a public option only if private insurers failed to provide suitable care and adequate competition. The proposal has reportedly been discussed as a so-called “compromise” in talks with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe. Progressive Democrats have vowed to oppose any healthcare reform bill that doesn’t establish a public option. Congress member Raul Grijalva, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, “Without a robust public option, reform will enrich pharmaceutical and insurance companies because it will lack any significant competition and incentives to drive down health care costs for consumers.”