White House, Baucus Still Want Bipartisan Health Bill
Facing morning headlines indicating that Democrats are leaning toward a partisan approach to health care reform, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, just issued a statement reiterating his commitment to a bipartisan bill.
“„Bipartisan progress continues. The Finance Committee is on track to reach a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive health care reform that can pass the Senate. Our group will be meeting tomorrow and our staffs continue to meet as well. I am confident we will continue our steady progress toward health care reform that will lower costs and provide quality, affordable coverage to all Americans.
The statement came just a few hours after White House spokesman Robert Gibbs made a similar commitment to bipartisanship. But with GOP leaders threatening to vote against health reforms that don’t include their priorities — including tort reform and the elimination of an employer-sponsored coverage mandate — it’s tough to see how the party’s positions are reconcilable.
