Baucus Touts His Bipartisan Bill—Alone

Baucus, Dodd the only senators with secure seats at negotiating table

(NEWSER) - Every senator worth their salt is salivating for a seat at the table when Harry Reid merges the Senate’s two competing health care bills—but the vast majority will instead have their noses pressed to the glass. Reid hopes to speed things up by keeping the group small, Politico reports, with one Senate leadership source saying that it may come down to three men in a room: Reid, Max Baucus, and Chris Dodd. More»

Ball's in Reid's court

(NEWSER) - The Senate Finance Committee voted down both proposed versions of the public option this afternoon, setting up a showdown between conservative Democrats—who sided with Republicans in opposing the creation of a government plan to compete with private insurers—and their liberal colleagues. Jay Rockefeller's amendment failed, 15-8, shortly before Chuck Schumer's reputedly more palatable proposal managed to sway two Democrats but went down to a 13-10 defeat. More»

(NEWSER) - Well, this should zip right along: Members of both parties on the Senate Finance Committee have drafted no fewer than 564 amendments to be considered when the panel takes up chairman Max Baucus' health care bill next week, reports Bloomberg. Expect to hear the phrases "public option"—Democrat Jay Rockefeller is still pushing for it—and "Cadillac plans" a lot. More»

'Gang of six' chair will test whether GOP has any interest

(NEWSER) - Democratic Senator Max Baucus said today he will test the waters of bipartisanship in health care reform, the New York Times reports. After a month of angry nationwide debate, the Senate Finance Committee chair plans to present the bipartisan group of six with a formal health proposal as early as tomorrow. Republican members will have to decide whether to debate and rewrite the legislation for presentation on the Senate floor. More»

Instead of celebrating, 'now is time to dig in'

(AP) - President Obama called today's passage of legislation by a key Senate committee "a critical milestone" toward getting a health care overhaul this year, but said "now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back." Obama spoke in the Rose Garden about two hours after the Senate Finance Committee approved its version of reform. Obama praised the bill but didn't endorse it over the others that have passed other committees. More»