Politico: Baucus Says No Bill By August Recess
Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) says his health care negotiations won't bear fruit before the August recess, according to Politico.
The report, if accurate, comes a day after Republicans ground negotiations to a halt out of frustration with pressure from Democratic leaders who want the committee to produce a bill before the end of next week. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), the most conservative Republican at the table, is facing significant pressure from his own party's leadership to slow down the negotiations, or scuttle them entirely. But Baucus is committed to a consensus bill. His counterpart, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has indicated that he won't sign on to a bill unless a Republican other than moderate Olympia Snowe (R-ME) signs on as well. And as such, they've given Enzi--no moderate he--a great deal of say over the terms of the negotiations.
Late update: Here's Roll Call with the corroborating quote: "It's clear there will not be a markup next week," Baucus said. "That's clear. But nevertheless, we are as committed, if not more committed, to find a bipartisan agreement."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Politico has major credibilty issues but no one should be surprised by the annoucement of further delay tactics where Baucus is complicit but how will Harry play it is the story. Any guesses?
My guess, he will do nothing and the further delay will be tolerated again. Harry, time is running out on your leadership capacity.
July 31, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too little too late-- BAUCUS is already targeted for replacement by the party!... Can not wait to hear how the August VACA goes in Montana!!!!
July 31, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too little too late-- BAUCUS is already targeted for replacement by the party!... Can not wait to hear how the August VACA goes in Montana!!!!Call him 1.800.828.0498...and the former Bludogs who are now called the 'OLD YELLOWS'!
July 31, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry, I'm sure President Enzi will come up with a terrific plan.
Jesus. What a great democracy we have.
July 31, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mad money Max milking this thing for every last dollar he can squeeze out of the medical-industrial complex.
Just like the Blue Dogs.
Either these whores eventually come back to the party line or Democrats should boot them out, because if not, they'll just drag the party down to another 1994.
July 31, 2009 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt. For every day this is delayed is another round of fundraisers those bozo's on the finance committee can have with insurance lobbyists to raise cash.
Maybe people should start throwing the term play for pay out there to intimidate these clowns.
July 31, 2009 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
This makes no sense. Baucus was just won reelection with 73% of the vote. He doesn't need the money. He's got plenty and probably won't even have to run a commercial next term.
He's doing this because he's a conservadem who believes true healthcare reform is evil. He's just using the republicans as cover to do what he wants to do anyway.
July 31, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
God, I hate the Senate.
July 31, 2009 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone polled Montana on the public option?
July 31, 2009 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
"...we are as committed, if not more committed, to find a bipartisan agreement."
note to baucus:
if dems were as committed as you are to finding a so-called bipartisan agreement back in 1965 WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED MEDICARE/MEDICAID.
you can't find constructive bipartisan agreement on health care with the party that even today remains ideologically opposed to the very existence of programs like medicare and medicaid.
July 31, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
With the health care bill languishing in the Senate and under fire in the House, Democratic leaders are quietly preparing for Plan B.
Under the scenario now being discussed, bi-partisan talks would be aborted and parliamentary maneuvers used to force the bill through with a party-line vote.
“There’s rising disgruntlement with how Baucus has handled this,” a senior Democratic aide tells ABC News. “We have to look at other options.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/07/deadlines-schmeadlines-no-breakthroughs-the-deals-no-health-care-bill.html
July 31, 2009 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is good news, although they should have been floating it a week or two ago.
July 31, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've said this before, but it bears repeating:
There once was a Baucus named Max,
Whose ethics it's said were quite lax.
He fished in Montana,
With friends from Humana,
For money to fill up his PACs.
July 31, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
He relaxed in his caucus with Grassley
Buddies Conrad and Enzi the Ghastly -
After hundreds of days
Their "bipartisan" ways
Left the public still playing the patsy.
July 31, 2009 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you imagine the crazy shit Republicans would be pushing through if they had 60 Senators and a huge majority in the House? Have to admire them for their discipline. This Baucus bullshit is getting out of hand. Again, since when did bi-partisanship mean, "whatever the minority GOP wants"? I though Baucus was the Finance Committee chair - when did he cede the gavel to Grassley and Enzi?
Do yourself a favor and check out the campaign contribution breakdown by industry for folks like Baucus and Kent Conrad over the last few election cycles. Explains it all.
July 31, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, well FUCK YOU, MAX!!!
July 31, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm ready to tie this bastard's hands and feet with used catheters, give him a taste of the defribrillator, use the MRI to check for cerebral activity, and treat him for elephantiasis (Grassley/Enzi variant).
July 31, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just called Baucus' office. Spoke to a staffer (who was very nice).
What was notable and stood out was the religion-like belief that a good bill could ONLY come from a bipartisan process. It's like their mantra over there.
They are clearly not interested in looking at any different approaches.
If a change in the direction of negotiation occurs, it will have to come from Reid.
July 31, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess that means Medicare sucked.
July 31, 2009 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now if only Baucus would admit that one of these things is the cause of the other...
It's disgraceful. Republicans on the committee have admitted that they've been ordered by the leadership not to agree to bipartisan "compromises" when they look close, and Baucus had admitted that the previous "bipartisan" versions he submitted to the CBO to show they're making progress contained elements that Republicans had not agreed to. And yet the Democratic leadership still pretends this charade is a good-faith negotiation!
July 31, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
let's see: baucus voted yes for gwb's tax cuts to the wealthy, leaving president obama with a 1.7 billion deficit; baucus voted yes on the 2003 medicare modernization act, directly correlating to the huge profits posted by the health care industry; but now he wants "bi-partisanship" cya?
rep. ross from arkansas, a pharmacist by training, received the largest percent of campaign donations from the health care industry.
blue tics are collecting money hand-over-fist from the same health care industry.
it is all too clear just whom in our representative democracy, our representatives are representing, and it isn't those who elected them, but rather those who paid them to remain in power and wealth.
July 31, 2009 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bush tax cuts cost us $1.7 trillion, not billion.
July 31, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd just as soon have Baucus report out the Coburn-Ryan Health Bill and get the hell out of the way
July 31, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
" . . . and get the hell out of the way"
Yes, this is the main message that MaxBlockus needs to hear!
July 31, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The perfect solution!
But don't try to merge the Finance Committee bill
(Coburn-Ryan Health Bill) with the bills from the other two Senate committees. What could be more fair than to report out the Republic Party's own plan and guarantee a separate vote on their bill?
The bills from the other two Senate committees can then be marked up, merged, voted on and sent over to the House for conference.
Heck, pass both bills in the Senate and send them over. I'm sure Pelosi and Waxman can figure out what to do with Coburn-Ryan.
July 31, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
There has to be some way to just shut him out and start consolidating the bills without any input from finance. Doesn't there?
July 31, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink