The Democrat who heads the Senate Budget Committee says he doubts there are enough votes in the Senate to support President Barack Obama's plan for a government health insurance option.
Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota says that there are good arguments for the proposal but probably not the votes it needs in the Senate.
Most Republicans and some Democrats object to the government getting into the health insurance business, saying it would hurt private insurers. Obama argues that a government option would help keep down costs.
Conrad is proposing a compromise plan that would set up membership-based cooperatives using government help but not run by the government.
Conrad appeared Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
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