Snowe to Vote for Health Bill

Either way, Maine Republican will likely preserve leverage going to the floor

(NEWSER) - The day is finally here: Olympia Snowe will have to vote one way or another on the Senate Finance Committee’s health reform bill. The Maine Republican has been coy—“It’s all about what I’m comfortable doing at the end of the day”—but that doesn’t stop Chris Frates and Mike Allen from taking a look at the immediate and far-reaching impact. A “yea” would give Max Baucus some payoff for rejiggering the bill to woo Snowe, and the Democrats the gleam of bipartisanship. More»

As interminable mark-up on health bill continues, chair moves on from bipartisan dream

(NEWSER) - With his health care reform bill finally in committee, finance chair Max Baucus appears to have given up on a truly bipartisan bill. On day one yesterday, "he seemed to be moving back to the left again," writes Mike Madden in Salon. He agreed to a host of modifications suggested by Democrats to make reform easier on lower-income Americans, and his aides didn't seem to mind the ensuing criticism from the right. More»

Hostile insurance industry pushes Dems to consider grab-bag of proposals

(NEWSER) - The public option, left for dead by the Max Baucus bill that passed the Finance Committee just weeks ago, has a new lease on life in the Senate. Credit goes to a CBO report underwhelmed by that bill's efforts to encourage competition, and a big power play by the insurance industry that backfired. Democrats are considering a raft of possibilities, from the triggered plan favored by GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe to others that would allow states to opt in, or out. “This issue is alive,” Max Baucus tells the Wall Street Journal. More»

From Dems who swing right to left-leaning GOPers, debate promises suspense

(NEWSER) - As health care reform bills merge and change on the Senate floor, the pool of legislators to watch has grown. The Wall Street Journal takes a look:

• Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: Her vote for the Finance Committee bill was clutch, but "doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow," she says.
• Susan Collins, R-Maine: The more conservative of the Maine senators would be a great catch for Dems, but she's even more opposed to a public option than Snowe.

Maine senator's yes on health reform isn't first time breaking with the party

(NEWSER) - Today’s committee vote for a key health-reform measure isn’t the first time Sen. Olympia Snowe has broken with fellow Republicans—and leads Laurie Kellman to call her, and not former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s real maverick. Snowe also voted for President Obama’s stimulus package, Kellman notes for the AP, and against President Bush on bill extending health coverage for kids. More»