Now that Congress is back and in full swing, and the push for health care reform will be moving fast and furiously, I thought it’d be helpful to have some quick daily or semi-daily updates on what’s happening on the Hill.
Health on the Hill will feature news links that should help you keep track of the reform debate and get to the meat of the issue. Enjoy!
Today’s Updates – 9/16/09:
Today is the long awaited day that we will finally see something for health care reform from Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He will release his mark of the committee’s health care reform bill, which hasn’t really changed drastically from the original draft we saw before recess, and is basically full of compromises to appease Republicans who still won’t support it. Awesome. Thanks Max.
There are still some supporters of his bill though, like businesses, because Baucus is easing their requirements for covering employees. This is just one of the many weak components of this hefty $856 billion bill (about $300 billion more than the HELP committee bill which actually has a public option and strong reform components). Can someone explain to me how a weaker bill costs more?
Baucus’s bill gets no love from GOP
Baucus tailored his proposal to win the backing of some Republicans, hoping to keep alive the possibility that Congress would pass a bipartisan bill. But after months of closed-door talks, none of the three Republicans involved in the..Gang of Six is expected to declare support for the bill..
Businesses Favor Finance Panel’s Health Bill
Business groups that have opposed House versions of a health bill say they are warmer toward the version emerging from Sen. Max Baucus’s Finance Committee, which places less-onerous requirements on employers.
Rockefeller Explains What’s Wrong with the Baucus Health Care Bill
[Baucus wants to replace the public option with Co-Ops that won't work]: “There are only about 4 to 7 [Co-ops] that exist [nationwide]. And I’m very skeptical… of starting up a system that doesn’t work.”