Senate Finance panel rejects govt insurance option

[JohnWxy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090929/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul


WASHINGTON – Liberal Democrats failed Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate Finance Committee, despite widespread accusations that private insurers routinely deny coverage in pursuit of higher profits.

The 15-8 rejection marked a victory for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee chairman, who is hoping to push his middle-of-the-road measure through the panel by week's end. It also kept alive the possibility that at least one Republican may yet swing behind the overhaul, a key goal of both Baucus and the White House.

"My job is to put together a bill that gets to 60 votes" in the full Senate, the Montana Democrat said shortly before he joined a majority on the committee in opposing the provision. "No one shows me how to get to 60 votes with a public option," the term used to describe a new government role in health care. It takes 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to overcome delaying actions that Republicans may attempt.

Undeterred, supporters of a new role for government in U.S. health coverage immediately launched a new attempt to prevail.


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Here is a link to the Congress.org site http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt . It makes it easy to contact Senators and Representatives.

If you think it's okay to mandate that everybody get healthcare without providing a public option, don't bother. If you think Baucus is trying to deliver a Republican inspired bailout of the health insurance industry you might let him know where he can put his Health Care Reform.

[AndyA]

1. 60 votes? Isn't 50 the magic number?

Geez, why not just say nothing passes unless it gets 100% support? :eyes:

What a bunch of bullshit wastes we have in the Senate. :puke:

[kenfrequed]

2. His math skills aren't very good.

Let us see...

Add 1 republican (Olympia Snowe)
Plus 15 Blue dog democrats
Plus 30 other democrats that might be pressured into it

= 46 Democrats

Why the hell isn't Baucus trying to triangulate and compromise with the progressive Democrats in Congress that actually WANT healthcare reform?

[JohnWxy]

3. He's got integrity problems. THERE AIN'T NO FUCKIN REFORM w/o A PUBLIC OPTION.

[kenfrequed]

4. True

Very true. And the public option is cheaper. Cheaper to patients. Cheaper taxpayers. Cheaper and more efficient all the way around.

[dccrossman]

5. I wonder if the number is 59 without him?

The Finance Committee is more conservative than the rest of the Senate.

We have to hope, and push, for the full Senate to lean towards the HELP Committee bill. Then, beyond that, for the White House to help push when the House and Senate versions come together. Assuming, of course, that the House doesn't lose its will if the Senate fails to pass the Public Option.