Tim Kaine in MSNBC news programs

On Health Care: Public option puts some real competition into the system

KAINE: Primarily insurance companies. They do better if they can kick people off insurance or not cover people who they say have preexisting conditions. They fought against it hard in the 1990s & are fighting against it now. But the overwhelming majority of the American public think the system is broken and they want health insurance reform. They want a public option to put some real competition into the system.

Q: We're seeing some opposition, even from conservative Democrats, because of pressure from industry.

KAINE: This is a heavy lift. Every president since President Truman has said, we need to find a health care future where we have a competitive insurance market and all Americans receive coverage. But all the polling I've seen says the overwhelming majority of the American public support the basic principles of lowering costs for families and businesses, preserving choices, and actually expanding choice with a public option.