Angry Crowd Greets McCain at Ariz. Town Hall

Health care reform law opposition becomes Republican litmus test

(NEWSER) - The push to repeal health care reform has become a rallying cry for GOP candidates pushing for big congressional victories this year and eager to show their willingness to take on the Democratic agenda. In Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist and conservative upstart Marco Rubio agreed on little else in a weekend debate, during which Crist used the issue to appear just as ready as Rubio to fight President Obama. John McCain and Sarah Palin delivered a similar message while stumping for his re-election. More»

Senator, in tough re-election fight, promises 'no cooperation'

(NEWSER) - The divisive fight over health care reform is over—for now—but the fallout will foil any attempts at bipartisanship, John McCain vowed today. "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," he told an Arizona radio station. "They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it." McCain, who is locked in a contentious primary battle, later took to the Senate floor to excoriate the Democratic leadership, from President Obama on down. More»

Snowe, Lieberman, Nelson skeptical

(NEWSER) - Three senators uneasy about the proposed Medicare expansion in the health care bill could derail Harry Reid's hopes of getting the bill wrapped up before Christmas. Olympia Snowe, Ben Nelson, and Joe Lieberman—a Republican, a Democrat, and an independent—have expressed varying degrees of misgivings about the proposal and are seeking more information, Politico reports. More»

Option will be revived if insurers fail to provide nonprofit plans

(NEWSER) - The Senate compromise on health care reform means the public option is dormant but not dead, according to an aide party to negotiations. The tentative deal reached last night will give insurance companies the option of creating nonprofit insurance plans to be offered on exchanges, but a federal public option will be triggered if the insurance firms fail to offer such plans, the aide tells TPM . More»

Public option weaker than House's, abortion restriction less severe

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid rolled out the Senate’s combined health care reform bill last night, earning oohs and ahhs from fellow Democrats, particularly over the price tag, and setting the stage for a cloture vote Saturday. The bill would cost a svelte $849 billion over 10 years while reducing the deficit by $127 billion—the biggest reduction of any bill to date. Here’s the nitty gritty:

• The bill would set up health insurance exchanges for the uninsured, including a national public option, which states could opt out of.