Baucus Ready to Move on Health Care Reform Bill

Roll Call ^ | Sept. 5, 2009 | Emily Pierce

[redreno]

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has decided that Tuesday is the make-or-break day for bipartisan health care reform talks that have slowed the debate in the Senate to a crawl for most of the summer.

The “gang of six” negotiators are expected to meet when Congress returns from the monthlong August recess Tuesday, and sources said Baucus will use that opportunity to push Republicans to sign onto the outlines of the bill that they have been discussing for months. If, as Democrats expect, ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) balk at agreeing to a bill, Baucus plans to try to continue pursuing a bipartisan agreement with the third Republican in the group – Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) – Democratic sources said.

“He’s meeting with the gang one more time. If it’s where it was in July, they’re going to move ahead with Snowe,” one knowledgeable source said.

[PhiKapMom]

She is not up for reelection.

[upchuck]

In anticipation of this historic event, Senator Snow has already rolled over and is waiting for Baucus’ blessing.

[JSDude1]

Oh-this is outrageous it isn’t Bi-Partisan unless they Democrats give anything (which I doubt they will; the “public option”).. We need to call these Senators and let them know how we feel!

Then when Bacus arogantly calls for Bi-Partisanship he can be shown what he is..and hopefully Grassley will call him on it, and let him know where to put his bill, and then tell the American people and the media why the Democrats’ plan failed.

[JSDude1]

Don’t put Evan Bayh in that category..he’s a socialist who plays conservative from time to time (very few times, and only on eletion years). WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET RID OF HIM!

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care daily digest PING LIST

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[Mariner]

They might get Snowe, but I don’t think they can get 50 more votes.

[counterpunch]

I know what you're saying, and believe me, I want Bayh and every other Democrat thrown out. And RINOs like Snowe, too. I was just pointing out that there are some Democrats like Bayh and Nelson who will join the Republicans and prevent the Democrats and Snowe from reaching 60 votes.

What is interesting about this whole 0bamaScare fiasco is that it is lose/lose for Democrats, and many are going to lose their seats over it no matter what they do.

With the rare exception of the 0lypia Snowes of the GOP, the Republicans are united in their opposition, as are their voters.

But the people Democrats rely on to win elections are not united, and this is a big issue that affects everyone in a very personal way. This is what people will be voting on in 2010. And the Democrats are going to alienate half of their voters no matter what they do. A divided Democrat party cannot beat a united Republican party. It is going to be a bloodbath come November 2010. The only question is whether or not the GOP gets it's act together and wins back the House with Mike Pence at the helm, or continues its uninspired losing streak under Boehner.

 

[mainerforglobalwarming]

It’s hard to imagine a conservative winning anywhere in this state.

[PhiKapMom]

My daughter was in the Navy in Maine and after my visit, I would agree with your assessment. Have tried to tell people that there are states we are not going to get a conservative elected so we have to support the Republican that can win the seat. Other then NH, any Republican elected in New England is probably not going to be very conservative (NH is going the way of the rest of NE thanks to people from MA moving there) but we get their vote for leadership and in the case of Snowe/Collins, the military gets their support.

[orinoco]

This is how the war against fascism is fought. You have to continue the fight. There is no turning back. Baucus and the fascists are swimming against the tide of the will of the American people. Forcing people to purchase any product or service is unconstitutional. Now is the time to take them on and never quit.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

God bless your daughter for her service to the country. I think if all the conservatives moved from MA, and Maine and Vermont to NH we might have a shot at creating a real conservative state in the Northeast. But I suppose that's just a pipe dream at this point.

[PhiKapMom]

NH was overtaken by MA liberals who moved into Southern NH. We spent nine months in NH/MA back in the 80’s and it was happening then. It wouldn’t take many conservatives if you all could kick the liberal MA residents out of Souther NH. I was shocked to learn they moved to So Maine as well.

Was in Maine when I heard the colorful expression used on the carpetbaggers from MA at the Portland Market.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

Well, let's hope that someday reasonable people decide to move into Maine and Mass. But while I hope this happens, I'll plan for the worst. Which is the status quo here.