Top Pelosi aide: Dems are "reasonably confident" they can pass ObamaCare

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today that Democrats would pursue a “simple majority” strategy and her chief of staff reinforced that point telling supporters during a conference call that reconciliation is a legitimate legislative process, dismissing criticism of the move as a “non-issue,” according to the notes of several participants.

If Democrats can agree on a reconciliation package, John Lawrence said, House leaders are “reasonably confident” they can pass it.

“Bottomline is we are moving forward … expeditiously,” he said…

Pelosi, he said, still supports the public option but it’s inclusion will come down to whether they can win the votes for it. If not, the legislation would act as a foundation on which to add a future public option.