Baucus Offers Health Plan,

Trimming Cost to $856 Billion

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR

Published in The New York Times: September 16, 2009

WASHINGTON — Senator Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat, on Wednesday unveiled his plan to extend health coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans, providing a detailed look at a legislative proposal that meets many of the requirements that President Obama laid out in his address to Congress last week.

The proposal is the result of more than a year of preparation by Mr. Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and three months of intense talks among a small group of Democrats and Republicans. The three Republicans in that group are so far refusing to endorse the bill but negotiations will continue in the days ahead.

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Jay Rockefeller rips Max Baucus bill

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) continued his attack on Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) health care bill, sharply questioning the chairman’s decision to conduct months of bipartisan talks that failed to win a single Republican backer, while shutting out Democrats on the committee.

Hours after Baucus released his sweeping health care plan, Rockefeller said he could not vote for the bill as it stands – and questioned why Baucus allowed the so-called “Gang of Six” talks between three Republicans and three Democrats to progress for months.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27231.html#ixzz0RIAYZ5Uu

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