Maine's Other Senator Could Swing Health Reform

Vote on amendment kicks off legislative debate on health care

(AP) - The Senate cast its first votes on remaking the nation's health care system today, approving an amendment to safeguard coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests for women. The 61-39 vote on a provision by Democrat Barbara Mikulski and Republican Olympia Snowe was the first substantive ballot in an acrimonious health care debate that promises to go on for weeks. More»

Senate majority leader banks on 60 votes, infuriates Baucus

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid is preparing to bring a health reform bill that includes a public option to the floor of the Senate, gambling that his 60-member caucus will support the plan if it contains opt-out measures for individual states. The majority leader and other senators met with Barack Obama yesterday to discuss strategy, although the president did not explicitly endorse the approach. Polls show a clear majority supports a public option, and Nancy Pelosi is bringing a bill containing one through the House. 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.

Democrats hope centrist senator can get them past 60

(NEWSER) - As health care talks grow more polarized, Democrats are looking to Olympia Snowe as their most likely—and quite possibly only—Republican vote, the New York Times reports. “I certainly hope not!” exclaims Snowe when asked about the possibility. But the centrist Maine senator has long been engaged on health care issues, and believes deeply that reform is necessary. More»

State aid bill makes it through filibuster

(NEWSER) - The House is headed back to Washington early, after Senate Democrats unexpectedly broke through a Republican filibuster on their much-delayed state aid bill. The bill provides $26.1 billion to prevent state worker and teacher layoffs. Democrats got Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to once again cross the aisle and bring their vote tally to 61 by agreeing to pay for the bill with cuts to their own priorities, like the food stamp program, Politico reports. More»