WASHINGTON – Even while Congress is on summer recess until after Labor Day, the debate over a public health option continues.

House committees have passed bills in favor of a public option, which would provide a health insurance choice for millions of working Americans who don't have the opportunity to buy employer-based coverage or can't afford it.

The Senate Finance Committee, the last remaining committee to pass its version of a health reform bill, has yet to decide on the issue, with Republicans and some conservative Democrats arguing that a public health plan could be the beginning of a government takeover of healthcare.

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), one of six key Congressional leaders on health reform, has been vocal in supporting a nonprofit-run co-op where uninsured Americans could band together and purchase health insurance. Healthcare economists have said this would only work to bring down costs if the numbers of people in the co-op are large enough.

The Obama administration has said it would like to see a public option as part of a comprehensive health reform package, despite recent reports to the contrary. President Barack Obama has said one of the main purposes of the public health option would be to keep private insurance companies "honest." Another is to provide a health insurance option for the 47 million uninsured.

Enzi was quoted Monday in Wyoming's Casper Star-Tribune as saying he believes Congress should work on passing health reform in stages. He told members of the Casper Rotary Club the healthcare issue is so large that reforms can't be accomplished with one bill, which is what the administration and Congressional Democrats are pushing.

Republicans fear a public option would lead to healthcare rationing, though Democrats deny that is the case. Republicans also fear it would put a strain on the budget. In response, Obama has said his proposal is budget neutral, funded through taxes on line-item charity increases proposed for the "most wealthy" Americans and stronger Medicare fraud recovery programs.

In an op-ed in Wednesday's edition of USA Today, Enzi said "a government-run option is really no option at all."

The Senate Finance Committee has said it will deliver its version of a bill by late September, but many observers fear that won't happen. Even if the committee is able to forge a compromise, the battle has yet to face the full House and Senate.