Jonathan Weisman reports on health care politics.

Just when you thought it was dead, a federally run public option for health care is getting new life in the Senate.

Senate Democratic leaders and Delaware Sen. Tom Carper are in talks aimed at strengthening the government-run public option that would go into a final health care bill.

Carper has pushed a plan that would allow states to set up their own government-run insurance options, and possibly band together to form regional public options. But Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, mindful of continuing discontent on the left, wants a federal role in the Carper plan. The federal government would create its own public option, and states would be allowed to opt out of it if they choose. That way, the default would be a government-run choice in all 50 states.

Democratic leaders, conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans are in delicate talks, trying to assemble a bill that could go to the Senate floor with at least 60 votes in favor. Democrats would trim the bill’s cost, and cut back on some of the tax increases in the measure set for a final vote in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The value of “Cadillac” insurance plans subject to taxation would be raised, largely to please unions that have negotiated for strong health care coverage. The tax on medical devices could also be weakened to please Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, the Republican most likely to vote for the bill…