HONOLULU — U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye have signed a letter with 28 other senators urging that a public option be included in whatever health care bill Senate leaders draft.

The letter on Thursday urged Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada to include a public option that is modeled after private insurance. They said such a plan would have negotiated rates and would not require medical care providers to participate.
It also said support for a public option “runs deep” in the Senate.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s plan includes a public option provision. But the bill the Finance Committee will vote on next week does not.
Hawaii Democratic Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono also support a public option.