A highly anticipated health care bill was released today from the Senate Finance Committee led by Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). The bill is already facing opposition from leading Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.
Senate Republicans have voiced their concern with the bill, including Senator Charles E. Grassley who serves on the Senate Finance Committee. He stated that he would not support the finance bill because it “does not meet the shared goals for affordable, accessible health coverage.”
Many Senate Republicans are concerned with the cost of health care reform which is expected to be at least $800 billion over ten years. Republicans, who have been speaking out against President Obama’s reform proposals over the past several weeks, have voiced their own reform suggestions including tort reform and increased insurance provider competition.
No Senate Republicans have voiced support for the Baucus bill, including Olympia Snowe who was one of only three Republicans to support the controversial stimulus bill. Snowe, who has been urged by conservatives to vote against the health care bill, stated that her concerns would likely not be met by the time the Baucus bill was introduced.
One of the biggest concerns is cost. Many senators have voiced concerns that the bill is not the most cost efficient solution, placing too high of a burden on middle to low income families who, under the bill, are required to obtain some form of health insurance.
Democrats control 59 seats in the Senate and will not be able to obtain two-thirds of the chamber without Republican support. Baucus believes that, if necessary, they will be able to pass this bill with a simple majority using a budgetary maneuver called reconciliation. However, any such move would cause major controversy and possibly backfire on the Democrats.
Not all Democrats are on board with Baucus’s plan. Some Democrats are angry that Baucus’s bill does not contain a public option, which was taken out in a bid for Republican support. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, is voicing concerns saying, “I personally think there’s a lot of heavy lifting still to do.”
Wyden is not the only Democrat voicing concern. Liberal democrats are saying the Baucus bill does not do enough to provide affordable health care, especially to low income families. Senator John. D Rockefeller IV, says that “the way it is now, there’s no way I can vote for the Senate package.”
Baucus, who is determined to get a bill passed, seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to pass some version in the Senate. The D.C. Writeup cautions Baucus not to focus on passing a bill if it means ignoring valuable input from both sides of the aisle. Health care reform should not be rushed and it’s far more important that the Senate, the House, and the President get it right than quickly pass a version with fatal flaws.
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