Baucus: Health Care Will Happen, With or Without GOP-Baucus predicts health care overhaul this year

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

Baucus: Health Care Will Happen, With or Without GOP

Baucus predicts health care overhaul this year

Mont. Democrat Max Baucus predicts health care deal this year even if Republicans back out

MATT GOURAS
AP News

Aug 31, 2009 18:19 EST

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says a health care overhaul will happen this year even if Republicans back out of bipartisan talks under growing public pressure and that the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy could help hold together a compromise deal.

Baucus is leading a panel of two other Democrats and three Republicans that is being watched closely by everyone from the White House and beyond. Chances of a bipartisan breakthrough appear to be diminishing in the face of an effective public mobilization by opponents during the August congressional recess.

But Baucus says the bipartisan deal is still alive. He said he still speaks frequently with Republican Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Michael Enzi of Wyoming.

"I think the chances are still good," Baucus told The Associated Press in an interview Monday. "I talked to them, and they all want to do health care reform. But the sad part is a lot politics have crept in. They are being told by the Republican Party not to participate."

Read more: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/08/baucus_health_care_will_happen_with_or_without_gop.php?ref=fpblg

[t0dd]

1. Haha, he doesn't sound as sure as he did a week ago..

;-)

[babylonsister]

2. Please. Enzi and Grassley are out, period! There is no flippin'

bipartisan deal! :argh:

[Alhena]

3. Baucus makes it sound like a reconciliation bill will be defective

I wish I understood the arcana about the reconciliation process.

[NYC Democrat]

5. large parts of insurance reform can not be passed under reconciliation If I recall correctly.

[harry_pothead]

4. I bet Baucus is mad as hell at the GOP

He bent over backwards to try to include their point of view, angering many in his own party in the process, and the GOP returned the favor by duping, betraying, and embarrassing him.

[babylonsister]

6. How did he bend over backwards? We don't know what he did. nt

[eleny]

7. He didn't kick them off the panel, for one thing

But seriously, Baucus makes me sick. If he is pissed at the GOP he deserves the heartburn for being a Dino.

[BlueIdaho]

8. I'll have some of what he's smoking...

Talk about wacky weed...

[Triana]

9. Only if HE stays out of the issue himself

since HE has been (one of) the biggest opponent(s) of it.

[dhpgetsit]

10. We should punish republicans for being obstructionists,

Public option is only available to Democrats!
(Said the little red hen)

[Cobalt-60]

11. I'll have mine without Republicans, please

Not a single Republican voted for Social Security.
They paid for that attitude with a half century out of power.
Let them display it again, this time to be forever repeated on
the net and television.
If they make enough of an ass display this time, 2010 mid terms
could mark the long overdue extermination of the Republican Party.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. Baucus BS. A good heatlh care bill will destroy the GOP

thats why they don't want it to pass.

And thats why he shouldn't care if GOP sign on or not.

What a chickenshit insurance man he is.

It was how long ago he threw out the Baucus 8 and wouldn't allow
the public option to be discussed?

Had nurses, doctors and activists arrested?

[aquart]

13. I hope he's experiencing deep clenching spasms in his gut.

Coupled with an inexplicable itch.

I am seriously annoyed with this person.

[Hubert Flottz]

14. Max is too stupid to be a senator, IMHO...

He still trusts and believes Charles Ghastly while Ghastly is plunging the knife in his spineless back.

EDIT The GOPers have murdered bipartisanship...they put out a contract on bipartisanship in the 90s...it was called the "Contract on America". Anyone who still believes in bipartisanship is too stupid to govern. The democrats in washington need to get real!

[Demeter]

15. It Doesn't Take a Weatherman To Tell Which Way the Wind Is Blowing

and Baucus got blown away, hot air balloon that he is.