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Senate Bill Likely to Come Down to Reid, Dodd, Baucus

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

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2009 11:27 AM CDT
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(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.

“Would I be disappointed? Yes I would be disappointed,” says John Rockefeller, one of the more outspoken liberal voices on health care. But adding Rockefeller—or other notables like Olympia Snowe or current HELP chairman Tom Harkin—would upset what Reid sees as a level playing field between Dodd, championing the liberal HELP Committee bill, and Baucus, backing the conservative Finance Committee version. Other senators may be let in for some meetings, but won’t get permanent seats.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., center, and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. right, head for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill, Sept. 22, 2009.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., center, and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. right, head for the Senate floor on Capitol Hill, Sept. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, flanked by Christopher Dodd and Max Baucus, speaks to reporters outside the White House, Aug. 4, 2009.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, flanked by Christopher Dodd and Max Baucus, speaks to reporters outside the White House, Aug. 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Snowleopard
Oct 8, 2009 1:02 AM CDT
Timmy: how can you just continually make up facts? the bill isn't covering illegals. And now they can't even get access to purchase unsubsidized healthcare on the exchanges (which seems unfair).
Fondue
Oct 7, 2009 9:37 AM CDT
Fondue
Oct 7, 2009 9:30 AM CDT
Really man, change your name to McCarthySight. What is your point? While you're at it, add my name.

 
Senate • Harry Reid • Olympia Snowe • Chris Dodd • Senate Finance Committee • health care reform • Jay Rockefeller • Max Baucus • Tom Harkin • Kent Conrad • Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

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