November 1, 2009 Lieberman won't join filibuster Play video

(NECN) - Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman says he will not join Republicans in a filibuster to stop the debate on health care reform.

Lieberman tells CBS's "Face the Nation" he's against the public option, but feels debate is important.

"I want to be able to say, yes, there are so many good things we can do to make health insurance more affordable and to extend it to people who don't have it now," Lieberman said. "But I feel so strongly about the creation of another government health insurance entitlement, the government going into the health insurance business, I think it's such a mistake that I would use the power I have as a single senator to stop a final vote."

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that only two percent of Americans under the age of 65 would sign up for the public option.