TGIF

It was so busy at work today I wasn't able to peek at the news.

So, the White House wants a trigger?

"Historically, 'trigger' mechanisms have not been successful, and they are not a substitute for a strong public health insurance option," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) in a curiously timed statement. "A 'trigger' simply delays price competition, which in turn will delay affordability for consumers and moves us farther away from the goals of health care reform. Already, we are seeing insurance companies threatening to game the system, by raising their prices in advance of reform. The only way to curb price-gouging by health insurance companies is with real competition on day one--that is the public option."

That makes sense to me. ("Curiously timed"?) As far as I'm concerned, the public option has already been triggered.

Then I saw this from 6:08 p.m. (in a comment on Firedoglake). (It's here too.)

The White House is denying reports that officials are pressuring Sen. Harry Reid to scale back the scope of the "public option" that'll be attached to the Senate health insurance bill. Talking Points Memo reported, based on unnamed sources close to the negotiations, that the White House is "skeptical" of a public option that includes a state opt-out choice, preferring -- and advocating for -- a public option that would kick in only if the private exchange failed to lower costs.

"The report is false. The White House continues to work with the Senate on the merging of the two bills," said Dan Pfeiffer, a top White House aide whose portfolio includes health care. "We are making good progress toward enacting comprehensive health reform."

I don't know what to think of TMP and Brian Beutler. Let's see what they have to say. (They've taken the story down from the top of the website and added an update to the story: "Late update: In response to this report, White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer issued the following statement. 'The report is false. The White House continues to work with the Senate on the merging of the two bills. We are making good progress toward enacting comprehensive health reform.'")

Rachel Maddow on now.