The Hill: Baucus Says No Bipartisan Health Deal This Week

[flpoljunkie]

Senators: No bipartisan health deal this week

By Jeffrey Young
Posted: 07/16/09 08:12 PM

The bipartisan group of senators working to hash out an agreement on healthcare reform delivered a message to President Obama and the Democratic leadership Thursday: You’ll just have to wait.

After another intense day of closed-door negotiations, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other senators emerged from a meeting Thursday to admit they had not reached the finish line.

“We’re ready when we’re ready but we’re not going to be ready today,” Baucus told reporters. “We’re very close to reaching agreement. By close, I mean it’s a matter of couple, three or four days, maybe.”

That may not be close enough for Obama, who has repeatedly said he wants both the House and Senate to approve their respective versions of healthcare reform before Congress departs for its August recess.

Earlier Thursday, Baucus indicated that the bipartisan group of committee members might achieve consensus before the day ended. That would have enabled the committee to begin marking up legislation next week but that prospect is now is serious jeopardy.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senators-no-bipartisan-health-deal-this-week-2009-07-16.html

[babylonsister]

1. A few more days won't hurt. nt

[flpoljunkie]

3. They will not convene again until next week making meeting their August deadline problematic

I hope Reid keeps his promise and keeps them in session until they pass health care reform--meaningful health care reform, that is.

[babylonsister]

6. So this admin wants the deal wrapped up between the House and

Senate before the August break, or just for both sides to have a plan?

[flpoljunkie]

9. I think he wants them to pass their plans so the bills can go to conference when they reconvene.

Obama wants a bill to sign into law by October.

[safeinOhio]

2. right. A bipartisan deal that won't get 1 republican vote.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Chris Dodd said it's better to get heath care reform right, than for it to be 'bipartisan.'

He's right, of course.

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. The statement itself is correct. But Chris Dodd doesn't want a true solution

Because his wife makes money from the corporate status quo.

[flpoljunkie]

15. Am hoping Dodd will do the right thing. He's facing reelection, feeling heat from his constituents

We will see whether Congress can put the public interest before the health care industry's interests. I fear it won't.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Give it up, Max. Ram it down their throats.

The hell with bipartisanship. The people of this nation need health care. Now.

[flpoljunkie]

7. This is the man who is #2 in health care contributions over the last five years.

Ben Nelson is #1.

http://acandidworld.net/2009/05/26/meet-blue-crossblue-shields-avatar-senator-ben-nelson/

Insurance contributions (2003-2008)

Ben Nelson: $803,209 (top industry donor)
Max Baucus: $784,185 (2nd largest industry donor)
Chuck Schumer: $334,500 (5th largest industry donor)
Evan Bayh: $318,748 (6th largest industry donor)

[rockymountaindem]

8. He's just looking for cover

so he can appease his health care industry contributors under the guise of bipartisanship. That way, all the bones he throws to HMOs he can just call "compromise positions" and blame it on the ill-defined other side.

[Laelth]

13. Too bad they only plan to give us insurance.

Some of us will be forced to buy it, in fact, even though we can't afford it. If I could have afforded it, I would have bought it already.

Oh, well. We'll see what happens.

:dem:

-Laelth

[ibegurpard]

14. You don't want Baucus ramming anything down your throat

Seriously.
He's part of the problem.

[DrToast]

10. Baucus is full of it

He's dragging this shit out on purpose. I'm convinced of that now.

How does he go from "maybe the end of the day" to "we need 3 or 4 more days" in a few hours?

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. "Bipartisan" according to Max Baucus means

The repuke party and the insurance whores. :grr:

[Thrill]

16. Baucus is a disgrace. I never thought I would see a Democrat pissed

because he can't tax healthcare benefits. Does this moron know he's not a Republican??