WASHINGTON (CNN) - CNN has learned that – barring some unforeseen change - Democratic Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus will unveil a health care proposal Wednesday without the support of the three Republican senators - Charles Grassley, Mike Enzi and Olympia Snowe - he's been negotiating with for months.
Senate Republican sources close to Grassley and Enzi - and in the case of Olympia Snowe, the senator herself - tell CNN they still have concerns that have not been addressed that range from taxpayer funding of abortion, to illegal immigration, to affordability of the health coverage this new law would require.
GOP sources to all these senators emphasize and insist that they aren't walking away yet - they will keep talking, keep negotiating and next week when votes start in the Finance committee they will offer amendments to address their concerns.
But Wednesday, when the Senate Finance Chairman unveils his bill, all indications are he will be doing it without the support of Republicans he has spent hundreds of hours negotiating with.
Meanwhile, Baucus is facing a defection from within his own party Tuesday. "I want to make clear that in its current form I cannot put my support behind the Finance bill - it will not have my vote," West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller said Tuesday.
Rockefeller believes Baucus has abandoned too many traditionally Democratic principles to accommodate the Republicans and moderate Democrats.
Among other things, Rockefeller thinks a health care overhaul should include a public option. The Baucus plan does not, instead calling for for non profit cooperatives.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Good for them! I was getting worried after all the articles and comments, especially about Snowe.
Rockefeller's statement, whatever his reasons, is stunning.
People, remember the numbers game – the Dems have enough to pass whatever they want without the Republicans. Ergo, blaming the Republicans for not passing something is just a smoke and mirrors effort to conceal problems within their own party.
One thing remains the same in politics – ALWAYS BLAME someone else if you can't get something done, get caught, or make a mistake.
Time's up, guys...it's Sept. 15. Show us your bill.
When this plan fails, america will know who to blame. America has spoken and the democrats fail to listen. I can't wait until next years election.
Perhaps the GOP has not learned to read. In HR 3200 section 246 (as I learned last week on CNN) it CLEARLY states that ONLY "Legal Residents and U.S. Citizens will be eligible for Government health insurance." Why do the GOPers continue to lie?
Also, abortion will not be funded. Dear GOD, when will the GOP stop with this nonsense!?
Stick a fork in it....the public option is dead. The public option is like democrat candy, it tastes good but will rot you away from the inside. They must be treated like children, it's just that they don't understand things yet. They will when they grow up, I think.
Baucus and others are being played. They will be forever told that they just need a little more compromise and a little more time to discuss, and then a bipartisan bill will be possible. But it's a case of Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football. The support will always get pulled out in the end.
Not a group but a "Gang" of Republicans. Boy, CNN your stooping to a low level to get your reporters. Couldn't you pay one enough that could select a better word. I got it! Republicans are Racist Gangs. That's what you meant isn't it. I agree with Joe Wilson except the fact is, you all lie!
The GOP will never support a health care reform bill.
So why not just give us single payer non-profit universal health care now.
Then go on to energy and immigration.
The GOP will not support these issues either and will only obstruct with fear/hate/do nothing.
At some point you have to act. Something the GOP nos nothing about unless it helps their selected few: CEO/NRA/Big oil/insurance.
Let's keep the public option out of this for right now. Let's not turn this into something like Acorn.
This doesn't surprise me. The republicans in the committee are only following the script laid out by Limbaugh and his cronies.
Typical republicans modis operandi:
Negotiate nothing.
Start wars
Let corporations run us into the ground
Swiftboat anything they don't like
These Republican Senators are a joke. Everyone agrees to the restrictions on illegals access to health care and restrictions on payment for abortion, but they keep raising those 'red herrings,' that are not even up for debate. The Republicans are making a joke of this process while people lose health care coverage, businesses cancel plans because they can't afford them and people file bankrupcy because they got sick. Why are the Republicans incapable of putting politics aside to attempt to address just one significant issue facing the Country.
They have concerns about illegal immigration? I thought the President was clear in his speech to the Joint Session of Congress. What did Joe Wilson say?
Democrats do what you been sent to Washington to do.....Leave the repubs behind!!!!!
Hopefully now Baucus will now withdraw his proposal and replace it with one that includes a strong public option. That's what America needs, for both moral and economic reasons. The futility of trying to coax Republicans into participating in real reform should be clear.
While Obama and Congress prepare to sell over 20-40 million captives to a market profiting from the rationing of human rights, ask yourself this:
What makes them better than me?
Is it money? Position? Class? Color?
What is it making them so much more human, that they deserve to see a doctor when ill, and you don't.
So what else is new that the Republicans will say NO....why would they want to change their slogan....PATHETIC
These great leaders on both sides have been working hard for Health Care Reform, and I personally appreciate their efforts very much.
The only thing I resent more than President Obama's 'RUSH to PUSH'
this bad legislation through... is his blatant lying when he says that
opponents of his proposals, have nothing of their own to offer.
The majority of American's understand that the best and the brightest ideas are not being heard (even though he has ears quite capable of
hearing). President Obama obviously cannot sway the masses with his rhetoric and listen at the same time.
How is "Republicans Say No" news???
Other possible headlines for the day...
"Water is Wet"
"September Follows August"
"Sunrise Occurs in the Morning"
Now, if a group of 6 republicans (pick any 6) say yes to something...that would be news!
This totally cracks me up. The Republicans have pretty much insisted that anything of real merit be taken out of this version of the bill, turned it into a real joke, and then refuse to even vote for it after they watered it down to nothing. Shame on them. For the life of me I cannot understand why we have to pander to these people so much. The way I see it, if we succeed, then they look bad, if we fail, at least we tried to do the right thing. At this rate, all we'll get is a piece of crap that won't help the folks who really need it the most.
Well then why bother trying to compromise at all? Time to push a single-payer health care system through Congress. Let the Rethugs howl about it, and then tell them "we tried to work with you....."
Go for it. Enzi flat out gave a list of things he would not support. That is not compromise. Press on without them.
EXCUSE ME!
Abortion is LEGAL in this country! Every woman with health care insurance has the right to an ABORTION! Every form of health care insurance should allow a woman to have an abortion.
Sorry if you don't like it. Where is our Supreme Court when we need it?
To heck with them.....obstructionists have been standing in the way of health care reform for 16 years. It's time to just get it done and move on.
A bill without the public option and the Republicans still aren't on board? Well that should be the last straw. The non-starter is out of the bill and now the skeptics can be sure that there was never any fuel in the Republican machine to begin with.
"Gang" seems like the appropriate word to always preface Republican!
Baucus should have known that at least two of the three weren't serious at all. Only Snowe may in the end actually vote for the bill.
At least DEMS can get credit for trying to get a bipatisan bill in the Senate.
Well, anyone who is paying attention knows this is coming. Does this mean that the bill from this committee is deader than the House bill? It looks that way, doesn't it? The House bill will pass the House. This bill might not even get out of the committee. It is time to reconciliate and put the naysayers out of their misery.
We must have a public option. How can you not vote for an option that will put the health of all Americans first? The only thing any private insurance company cares about is their bottom line. Do you really want the insurance companies deciding what type of coverage you get? It's a sad when profits are more important than health.
Go Dems Go start walking finally. Leave them behind.
NO ONE IN CONGRESS HAS A CLUE, they are all jokes,
After Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 Americans, eight years ago on Friday, we went to war and spent hundreds of billions of dollars ensuring that this would not happen again. Yet every two months, that many people die because of our failure to provide universal insurance — and yet many members of Congress want us to do nothing?
Senator Max has finally learned what we have known for years. And that is that the Rethuglicans have two mouths ... One on their face that they lie through, and another somewhere else that exudes the truth.
"illegal immigration"? Well, well.......it appears Joe Wilson was right after all but, we all knew that anyway....anytime Obama's lips are moving he's lying.
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
As usual, lots of babbling an no facts. Around 50% – 70% of American citizens support the existence of a public option in their reform package. Among medical doctors, the statistic is almost 75%. There *is* no debate; it's just the din of the loud and ignorant shouting over the majority. (Naturally, I wouldn't even know about these numbers if they hadn't been reported on NPR.)
Just listen to you liberal crybabies! Stop blaming republicans for showing some fiscal restraint! YOUR Party controls The House, Senate and Presidency! Admit the fact that your party is split between the left-wing extremists and Blue Dogs LISTENING to the voices of the American people. You have burned so many bridges of trust with pork-laden deficit spending and marxist agenda that passing future healthcare legislation looks highly unlikely! The democratic party is imploding!!!
Looks like the people who would pay for the people are finally being represented properly! Health care reform IS needed, but there is no Constitutional right to FREE health care so the public option is a non-starter!
The abortion thing is getting annoying. We have protections in place for victims of crimes and mothers whose lives are in danger. Why on earth would we want none of those protections in a public health option? Are poor women somehow less deserving of protection?
Republicans obviously don't believe in the importance of voting...
We voted in Obama OVERWHELMINGLY because we, the people, wanted the plans that he offered. However, Republicans don't care what the people voted for.. all they care about is who gets credit for improving our health care system. They know that if it happens while Obama is in office, then the Dems will forever look like the saviors of our country.
I think Obama may actually be the first president I can remember who actually wants to work together with the opposite party, even though he knows that he can get this bill passed without their help.
If Snowe doesn't support the bill, it must be crap.
This country does not need Government run health care. Ever since a bunch of Thugs have take over congress and the big house everything is geared toward giving more Thugs what they need to live instead of making them work for it.
Knock Me Over With A Feather...I stand corrected. 7 Republicans just voted yea in the resolution disapproving of Wilson's conduct. Good for you brave 7 Republicans!
Sooooo, 167 Republicans think it's OK to yell at The President of The United States during a joint session of congress. Please stay away from my children, I'm trying to teach them to be respectful citizens.
I'm glad to see the 3 Republican senators doing exactly what the people sent them to Washington to do. If the bill is garbage, don't support it. From what we have seen and heard so far, the bill is garbage.
The ongoing debates and surrounding uncertainties over health care reform are causing much concern among seniors about Medicare and how it will affect their benefits, especially those with Plan C Medicare Advantage. It is important to weigh these concerns with the fact that as long as seniors select a plan this year for 2010 coverage, they will not lose their plan during any time of the 2010 year, even if a health care reform bill passes. The 1997 Balanced Budget Act included a provision assuring Medicare beneficiaries a smooth and uninterrupted transition in their healthcare coverage should Congress mandate any program changes in the future. I recommend PlanPrescriber.com as a good resource for seniors to research the Medicare plans available in their zip code and to do a plan comparison. Things are getting very confusing out there regarding Medicare, but there are resources available to seniors to help them understand and make sense of their Medicare options.
You gotta love CNN's liberal bias. "Gang of 6 Republicans." The article describes the democrats by their formal real titles. CNN headline writers seek to belittle the concerns of republicans by calling names fit for street thugs, while the libs seek to pillory and punish a member of the House for correctly calling the Hussein a liar. Liberals are h y p o c r i t e s.
Is it not abundantly clear by now the GOPer Enzi and Grassley want "No" part of any bill? Come on.
Sen. Baucus should take this opportunity to put forth the same bill as his conservative colleagues in the House Energy/Commerce Committee that includes a public option, perhaps as a trigger. I mean the GOPers won't even compromise on the cooperatives. Forget their obstructive nonsense.
Good. It's high time the democrats figure out that the republicans will not vote for the bill because they want to keep their jobs. The republican tea bag tin foil hat fringe base has hijacked the party. there is no working with that. Obama should focus on getting the bill that will work. The democrats need to remember that in 5 years no one will remember what the fringe clowns were ranting about. Hold firm. Be the grown ups. Onward march! Historic legislation is much like Immortality. The fact that you had to hold rank and be brave makes your journey that much more of a history lesson in our future school books. Hold your head up, hold your head up, hold your head high!
Anyone who complains about BIG government should stay off the roads, keep their kids out of public school, don't call the police or fire departments if you need assistance, never visit a national park and, under no circumstances accept unemployment or Medicare!
We gave the republicans and the conservatives a chance to do the right thing, the christian thing. But as usual, they refuse to help the american people and are opposed to a brighter future.
It's time the party that has always looked out for america to go forth with out the republicans. Pass the legislation and let them do what they do best, cry and run from figments of their imagination.
I'm disappointed to see one of the few republicans I respect, Olympia Snowe, standing in the way of Baucus' proposal over things that are really just details and can be worked out in committee.
She is usually much more open to finding common ground.
I can only surmise that the GOP is putting pressure on her – perhaps by threatening to support competitors for her seat – if she doesn't fall in line and start goosestepping to their drumbeat.
Wake up, Olympia! It's country BEFORE party! The GOP will stop at nothing to convince you that it's the other way around.
Good - now maybe the Democrats can give us the bill that we voted them in to give us rather than the fake reform bill the Republicans keep trying to bully them into. Clearly there is no working with Republicans. America deserves better than sick, broke and uneducated.
We need to forget the Repubs....they have nothing to offer except objections....Time to move forward without them....they were never coming along anyway.............their only motivation is to stop Obama........They are just a waste of skin!!
No more gops ... over
well yah! Some tickering of the wording of the bill IS necessary..such as no exception with federal funds (per President Obama's promised statement that no federal money would be used for abotions); and no non USA citizen is eligible for national health care and it's subsidy's; and in addition some type of scale plan needs to be established based on the income range people, especially when you consider there will be a fine for failure to purchase.
Simplify it.....go co ops!
Geez Louise...more comments from you Dems talking about "Rethuglicans", etc....for the love of Pete give it a rest and TRY thinking like an adult. This is not about Republicans, although we ARE willing to work with you...you just don't want to budge on your own. And your unwillingness to budge is demonstrated by the fact that you have major divisions WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY!
By the way, the country did NOT vote for a public option, and Obama won with a BARE majority of the popular vote...almost half of those voting did NOT vote for him. So please shut it with regard to "this is what the country voted for"...because it's simply NOT. It's a great bill for those who don't want to work, and it continues and increases the "entitlement attitude" of people. That's it.
We CAN have reform, but let's start with what we have in common...which is a lot. The problem is you Dems are unwilling to go against YOUR lobbies, such as the lawyers and tort reform. If there is anything that Dems are good at, it's self-righteous hypocrisy.
So much for Obama the Uniter...
The Party of No strikes again!
Wow! Republicans saying no to something a Democrat proposes? Get out! Why, thats impossible, who in their right mind would ever believe such a thing?( end sarcasm )
This mess will go on forever, and when they actualy get a bill, what will everyone fight about then, why it is not free for the free loaders in this country.
Dems have shown they are willing to listen and compromise. Republicans have NEVER EVER had any intention of compromising in good faith. Obama and Congress has attempted to meet them half way. They have declined. Now let us proceed with a strong public option and move ahead without them as they have proven to be obstructionists only intent on delaying and defeating any meaningful change. GO FOR IT NOW and leave them behind! The country will agree with your bold move and will benefit from it.
Rob, you are so right. Obama just barely got elected with thin magin of votes. He was not elected with the overwhelming landslide that President Bush beat Al Gore with in 2000. That was a good old Texas whupping. I, too resent being called Rethuglican. The fact that we go around the country behaving in a boisterous manner and disrupting town hall meetings does not make us thugs. We are simply behaving like thugs but we are not.
We are trying to be bipartisan about healthcare but Obama is not. Does he not know that the bipartisan way is the Republican way. A bipartisan bill must have only Republican ideas. No Democratic ideas will be tolerated in a bipartisan bill.
Forty-five percent (45%) of all voters nationwide now favor the plan while 52% are opposed.
The GOP has a long history of being against programs that help Americans:
Social Security – socialist
Medicare – communist
Medicaid – ditto
SCHIP – Bush vetoed a Bill that would have insured 7 million American children; President Obama signed it into law. So much for being pro-life!
Unemployment Benefits
Minimum Wage
Civil Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act
etc.,
Is anyone surprise about how nasty and vile the GOP's fight against Healthcare is?
I think it's telling that so many think that healthcare reform supporters are wanting a handout. It really never occurs to these people that most of us fall in the same 80% that has insurance that you do. We just look at the families in the remaining 20% with compassion.
It is good to know that not only Republicans but also many thinking Democrats in Congress can not support Obama's concept of health-care reform.
The funding of abortions under socialized medicine is not the problem, abortions being a far preferable option to supporting the children of unprepared mothers, and the mothers themselves, on welfare for life.
The real problem is the immoral burden on productive Americans, through taxation, to provide subsidized (free) or too-cheap health-care insurance to citizens who do not contribute enough to society to buy their own insurance with what they earn–if they earn anything.
The productive in this country have said no.
No.
Good! The Democrats don't need the Republicans to pass a health reform bill. If they are so convinced this is such a great bill, then pass it all by yourselves! But..........it better be good, it better work, and it better be deficit neutral. This baby will make ya, or break ya!
While Olympia Snow trys to portray herself as a moderate, she is really just a republican lapdog that couldn't care less about the lives of her constituents. How about we take the hag off the Senate benifits tit and make her pay the exorbidant cost of healthcare out of her own pocket. While she can surley pay for it after raping the pockets of the American taxpayer for years, she won't be happy about it.
Remember the President is a POLITICIAN, and what do they do best.
liberals lie...wait that's old news.
Republicans say to vote "no?" What a shocker!
As usual, no solutions, just make sure Obama doesn't succeed. It would be good for the country, but bad for the republicans.
What was that McCain said during the campaign? Country first?
Forget the republicans, forget bauccus!
Dems: Depending on the poll, between 60% and 75% of the population favor reform with either single payor or a public option. You won in november by a significant margin. Go GET IT DONE!
Get a good bill through and win even bigger in 2010 and 2012. Don't get it done, let the losing party derail everything, and you'll be out in the next few elections. See: Election of 1994.
- businesses cancel plans because they can't afford them and people file bankrupcy because they got sick -
And this reform will stop businesses from canceling their plans, how???
If anything this will increase the # of businesses canceling plans! And
who do you think will be there to treat the patients? The number of patients per general practitioners is already on the increase, this reform will solve that how???
This reform is political from both sides and none are looking at the problem objectively.
nh
Anyone of us could have predicted this result.
Since the Republicans weren't negotiating in good faith, why don't we add the public option back in the bill? I don't see what else will drive the cost of insurance down. Let's put it this way: we spend $2.5 trillino for health care. Half of it is already government run. The other half is private insurance. They are taking 30% of $1.2 trillion for profits. Why don't we get rid of them and keep the $400 billion and use it some other way?
Well, if the Republicans won't compromise at all – then they deserve to be shut out. The majority of Americans have voted for Democrats. The Dems need to get their house in order.
If the Dems fail to pass a bill, they will pay a price. It does not matter if the Repubs are on board or not.
The GOP will destroy this country just to make their lobby buddies rich. America, kick these lousey jerks out.
And actually Rob, the majority of Americans voted for Dems and their philosophies. Not just President, but in the House and Senate too. We voted out the party of NO and we want to see action on what WE VOTED FOR. Just b/c we don't scream as loud as the republicans and just because we find civil ways to voice our opinions, does NOT mean that we should not be HEARD.
please obama and pelosi, stop the lies and distortions...you have lied at every turn in this,,,joe wilson was exactly right,,after his comment, you now claim to be correcting the discrepancy with enforcement...everybody wants what is best for the country, but the ruling party and president have on their ideological blinders...if you can insure all of the uninsured now from the government trough, and you can pay for it by cutting waste,,,,prove it,,,cut the waste first,, and then apply the savings to the presently uninsured...
Why should Republicans go along with programs that stink! I applaud them for NOT doing so. They were elected by millions of other Republicans, who demand that their views be represented.
Sorry if you don't like it, Libs - but, frankly, we don't care.
No public option will lead to a democratic massacre. I will vote against any name that says incumbent. Local, state, and fedral. And that includes Obama. Wall Street, Credit Card Companies, and the Banks, even after being saved by tax payers stand back thumbing their collective noses, and laughing at the POTUS. Does he believe the insurance companies will do differently? Take off the gloves or get out and let someone in who has the stomach for a real fight.
And a vote for any Repub? HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no Socialism....no healthcare rationing.....no big gov't.......no deficit spending.......no more taxes....no ObamaCare (he's not your father)........
The republicans must stand firm. That's what the people want...
Sounds like the Republicans are merely asking that the promises Obozo made in his speech (no illegal immigrants, no abortion funding) get written in the bill. Why is that a problem Demobots?
Can anyone be really surprised?
The Republicans have no intention of supporting any proposal, no matter how worthy or needed, put forth by Obama. They are single mindedly intent on ensuring that Obama fails at any cost.
That is their focus and they will pursue a ruthless divide and conquer strategy. You must admire their dedication............
Obama and the Democrats must come to the realization that they are, for all practical purposes, alone and the sole objective of the Republicans is to obstruct any and all proposals.