Obama ‘more than happy’ to consider co-op deal on healthcare

President Obama said he’s “more than happy” to entertain a proposed compromise on healthcare that would establish nonprofit healthcare cooperatives in lieu of a public option for consumers.

The president seemed to nod toward a proposal by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) on healthcare in light of centrist Democrats and Republicans’ skittishness at voting for a public (or “government-run”) plan.

Still, Obama only said he’s open to considering the compromise, and gave no signal that he was intent on backing off his support for a public option — though that plan may still face hurdles in the Senate.

“The cooperative idea…if that is a better way to reduce costs and help families and businesses with their healthcare, I’m more than happy to accept those ideas,” Obama told CNBC in an interview broadcast Tuesday afternoon.

More liberal groups have signaled dissatisfaction with the co-op compromise, instead pushing Obama to go all-in for the public option, which the president has said he supports.

“My general principle is that I always want bipartisan support,” Obama said. “What I do have control over is accepting bipartisan ideas and bipartisan policies.”

Republican leaders in the Senate such as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (Iowa) have signaled openness to Conrad’s proposal.