Senate negotiators find common ground

Sep 14 2009

Health care negotiations progress as bipartisan Senators find common ground and the Senate Finance Committee prepares to release a compromise plan this week.

The Washington Post reports: Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus announced today that he may unveil his long-awaited health-care bill as soon as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday -- "and he predicted that Republicans will find plenty to like about it."

Baucus and the "Gang of Six" Finance Committee negotiators "haggled Monday over top Republican concerns, including provisions that would limit medical malpractice cases, bar benefits from reaching illegal immigrants, and block federal funds from subsidizing abortions. The goal from the talks is to win over Sens. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and Mike Enzi (Wyo.), two conservatives who have remained at the table all summer despite strong opposition from most of their GOP colleagues."

The group also is attempting to limit the burden experienced by states as a result of proposed Medicaid eligibility expansions. "Democratic and Republican governors are strongly opposed to a new, unfunded Medicaid mandate." The group is scheduled to brief governors by conference call on Tuesday afternoon (Murray, 9/14).

Meanwhlie, CNN reports: "Increased awareness of the details of a possible compromise health care bill is boosting the comfort level of both Democrats and Republicans, a key Democratic senator claimed Monday."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus heads a bipartisan group of negotiators called the "Gang of Six," which he said is increasingly feeling confident about reform. "I do believe that in the end we will have some significant bipartisan support," Baucus, D-Montana, said (9/14).