A group of 20 people rallied outside the Billings Gazette on Wednesday night to urge Congress to support a public option in the healthcare reform debate.

A representative of the group, that's affiliated with Move on.org, says without a public option, it's not a health care reform bill.

The group directed its concerns toward Senator Max Baucus, and the lack of a public option in the Finance Committee bill.

Group members say that a public option is the only solution for rural areas as it would lower health care costs, expand coverage, and would not lead to the government as the only insurer.

"I don't see any way a public option can put an insurance company out of business" explained Darrell Johnson, the Greater Yellowstone Labor Council President. "I think it will make them sharpen their pencils and do business better. When you have a health care system run on profit as it is right now, how do you get the profit? You give less coverage and charge them more."

But, Jake Eaton with the group Patients First says that, "Moveon.org and their union allies aren't shooting straight with Montanans. They support the public option because they know that it's just the first step towards their true objective, a full-fledged government takeover of our health care system."

He added that a public option will lead to higher taxes, increased insurance premiums, and huge cuts to Medicare.

Meanwhile, Senator Max Baucus says he supports any provision, including a public option, that will ensure choice and competition and get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate.