Supporters pushed for a government health insurance option at the state Capitol Thursday.

Under the "the Connecticut Plan," small businesses, nonprofits and unions could all buy into the state employee health insurance program.

State Comptroller Kevin Lembo said the government can negotiate lower prices for doctor visits and prescription drugs.

"We're not talking about free health care or a government takeover of industry, even if that's what the high-dollar advertising campaigns will surely allege," Lembo said.

That's exactly what private insurers are saying. They said government health plans would put Connecticut's 60,000 insurance industry jobs in jeopardy.