Schumer, Rockefeller to Test Baucus on Public Option

[supernova]

Source: bloomberg.com

Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democrats will step up their challenge to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’s health-care-overhaul plan next week, the opening salvo in a larger fight over the shape and scope of final legislation.

Senators Charles Schumer of New York and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia will push for a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers such as Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. While four other congressional panels have adopted that “public option,” Baucus, a Montana Democrat, has endorsed more limited health cooperatives instead in a bid to draw Republican support, antagonizing members of his own party.

“It will be a big fight all the way down to the wire,” Schumer, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership, said last night in an interview. “The health-care bill that will be signed by the president will have a good, strong, robust public option.”

....

Schumer and Rockefeller each intend to introduce amendments that would include a public option in the finance committee bill. Rockefeller said including a federally backed insurance alternative was crucial to bringing down costs.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=arhscPRf2HLw

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This is getting REALLY good.

:popcorn:

[gateley]

1. When are they going to get it that no matter what, they will NOT "draw Republican support"? nt

[kysrsoze]

4. I don't think it REALLY matters to Max Baucus

If the public option fails, he pleases his donors. If the whole thing fails, he can say, "Well I tried to get the bill passed and did what I felt needed to be done." What a tool.

[Champion Jack]

5. baucus draws plenty of financial support from the lobbyists

[supernova]

7. Wouldn't it be great

if the ins cos learned the lesson that they could spend millions and millions fighting healthcare reform, and we still come out with a robust public option?

Hey, I can dream.

[gateley]

2. PS -- Wasn't that to begin today? Was it postponed? Thanks. nt

[sabra]

3. postponed until next Tues...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4076785

[gateley]

6. Thanks!! nt