soon, it'll be out of the hands of Baucus,

and he can concentrate on watering down the Climate bill.

Is it actually required that this committee pass a bill?

If so, then just pass it through ASAP; otherwise kill it.

Nicely crafted Baucus. A bipartisan shambles that you crafted with republican help that zero republicans support. I really hope Montana's Dems are watching.

So we need Sen Rockefeller plus at least one other Dem to push hard enough to turn this bill into something worth the paper it's printed on to the American people rather than it's extreme worth to the health care industry.

oh god I cant believe our future is being decided by HARRY FREAKING REID. we are sooooo boned

We need a bill, any bill, from finance for only one purpose; to serve as a floor for further negotiations. (Hopefully Rockefeller can barricade the door to the basement stairs). The final senate bill, merged with the HELP bill, is largely irrelevant and a middle step. We already know what the house bill looks like, and it likely will be approved without substantial change after the senate votes on whatever. THEN the real process begins behind closed doors to reconcile the house and senate versions. Anyone who tells you they know what that bill will look like is delusional or blowing smoke.
Me, I want lower costs and guaranteed, mandated access. The more, the better.

With all of these committees working onis healthcare reform, which is the most important? Do they all have to include PO or will the committees all combine to make one bill? I never understood this part of the process.
If they all combine to make it into one bill, does it matter if the Senate bill does not inclde PO if the other bills do? Nobody has fully explained that

I am entirely convinced that the entire push for bipartisan support has made it LESS likely that the bill or any other bill will receive any Republican support. If the Democrats and Obama did not appear weak indecisive and opportunistic, instead concentrated and defended THEIR ideas on what constitutes good health care reform, the public at large would have been more enthusiastic and I think the political dynamic would have pressured Republicans and others to support serious change. Instead we get an object lesson in how not to govern and how to squander political support and advantage. Obama may be a good politician; he does not have a clue on how to lead.