Just out of the office of Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) comes news that the cost of the health reform bill the Senate Finance Committee chairman is working on has fallen below $1 trillion. From Baucus’ statement:

We have options the Congressional Budget Office tells us would cost under $1 trillion and are fully paid for. Based on these developments, I’m even more confident in our ability to move forward.  And as I’ve said before, we will not put out a mark until we are sure we have it right.

$1 trillion is no chump change, but it’s quite an improvement over the $1.6 trillion the bill was estimated to cost just a few weeks ago.

Baucus and the Finance Committee are expected to unveil their proposal following the Fourth of July break.