Baucus Presents Plan with No Republican Support

Sen. Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, today presented a health care reform proposal that, he says, is the fruit of many months of negotiation with three presumably moderate Republicans on the committee. Not one of them stepped up to support it, despite numerous compromises to attract some Republican support. Instead of a government-run public option it offers particpant-owned cooperatives. It reduces the cost of reform to $774 billion over ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and would actually reduce the federal debt in about 10 years. Sen Baucus still holds out hope for bipartisanship: "No Republican has offered his or her support at this moment. But I think by the time we get to final passage, in this committee, you’ll find Republican support.” There is also concern about loss of Democratic votes becasue of the lack of a public option. The White House called it "another boost of momentum for the president’s effort to reform the health system.” Discussion of the bill begins tomorrow within the Finance Committee with a vote expected next week. You can read more the Baucus proposal from the New York Times here.