Baucus: ‘I am going to move forward’ with or without Republican support for health bill.
Baucus: ‘I am going to move forward’ with or without Republican support for health bill.
Appearing before reporters this afternoon, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) announced that he will introduce a chairman’s mark of his proposed health care bill next week and begin marking up legislation in committee the week of September 21. Baucus said he “hopes and expects” Republicans to support the mark:
I very much hope and expect there will be some Republicans when I issue the mark next week and when we go to mark-up the final week. My door is open. Irrespective of any Republican that I do think there will be, I will move forward anyway. We have to move forward. … I very much hope and do expect Republicans will be on-board. I don’t know how many, but if there are not any, I am going to move forward in any event.
Watch it:
Baucus also said that there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass a public health insurance option and denied reports that his committee was considering replacing the public plan with a “trigger.” Last night, CNN reported that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), a ranking member on the Committee and a party to the gang of six, “intends to offer counter proposals” today.
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About time
September 9th, 2009 at 2:03 pmGO Here if you have comments for him:
http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
September 9th, 2009 at 2:04 pmI very much hope and do expect Republicans will be on-board. I don’t know how many, but if there are not any, I am gonna move forward in any event.
Let me help Mr Baucas. You will get ZERO republican support on ANY healthcare reform you propose whether it’s single payer, public option, triggers or co-ops. So please be prepared to go on without them with a strong bill that includes the public option.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:10 pmFinally sick of getting your feeding hand bitten, Senator Baucus?
Niiiiiice attempt at bipartisanship, though.
NOT.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:10 pmAppearing before reporters this afternoon, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) announced that he will introduce a chairman’s mark of his proposed health care bill next week and begin marking up legislation in committee the week of September 21.
Then what the hell have they been working on all this time? I thought they were nearly done. They haven’t really started yet? And if they haven’t really started yet, then to hell with the Republicans. There is zero rationale in amending this bill to please Republican concerns because not one of them will vote for it anyway. So why end up passing a bad bill, which is the only kind we could get if Republicans have their way? (And I say that because the Republicans have made it clear that they want to protect the huge profits that the insurance companies have been making off the sick and dying.)
September 9th, 2009 at 2:11 pmIf they kill the public option, then I demand a single payer system.
Fcuk em.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:13 pmAh yes Bauchus, we’d like to thank you for your lovely bill, authored, as the e-document clearly states, by an INsurance Company wh0re/ex3c which is now your “staffer” (staff-her..is this mike hott?), which has no public option and which FORCES people to buy crappy private insurance under penalty of law…
September 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pmif you can get enough votes to pass it, the dems will be sunk for a decade..Why is no one anywhere but blogs calling this guy out for the bought off criminal and dem backstabber he is?
You tell ‘em, Baucus (D-Aetna). My hope is that the party can put enough pressure on this windbag to force a strong public option into the bill. You know, just like the strong public option in the other 5 bills that have passed House and Senate committees.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pmAllright Baucus you said your piece. Now go back to sucking the corporate teet while you give your Republican friends the reach around.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:16 pmMaybe we should use “triggers” for other government-funded programs, to save money. In particular, the Fire Dept. rules would be “We won’t come to put out your House fire until the house is 1/3 consumed. Ditto for brush and forest fires.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:18 pm(random)
In the German healthcare system, private healthcare is available ONLY to those making 50k+ euros per year. And it’s strictly regulated, at that.
What a country!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:18 pmScrew the Republics, they never intended to help the American people on anything, never have, never will.
Their whole concern is about keeping that Corporate Money flowing their way, “For the Corporation, by the Corporation”.
They have not done anything for Americans in at least 40 years.
Maybe TO the American Public, but certainly nor FOR the American Public.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pmIt doesn’t matter if it works, just move forward!
That’s how one builds a solid house: don’t do it right, just do something related to house-building!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pmOf course Baucus’ door is open.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pmHe has to keep the lobbyist traffic moving smoothly.
Don’t kid yourself about Grassley and other Republicans. Olympia Snow appears the be the only Republican in either chamber working in earnest.
The rest of the Republican caucus is content to dither, distort and defeat.
http://axisofreason.com/2009/09/07/gop-grand-obstructionist-party/
September 9th, 2009 at 2:21 pmLax,
There are over 100 million Americans who have gone without Republican support for their entire lives, and the next 100 million mostly get lip service.
There are at least 50 million uninsured and 50 million without useful health coverage (recision, $2000 deductible, etc.). The next 100 million probably need to keep their job to stay on a plan. And everyone’s paying more and more. Enough!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:24 pmBaucus’ bill was written by some woman who was a vice-president of Wellpoint
Health Insurance.
After all this time, he comes up with this crap – this utter crap, which is designed for the benefit of the health insurance cartel, not for the citizen.
When is Baucus up for re-election? We need to actively and financially support a non-repiggie opponent for his seat in the next election.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:27 pmThat’s ok geezer! Your party lost the 2008 election badly which is why they’re not writing this legislation. You appear to be senile and should have retired long ago! Even when you speak it’s in old man stutters and incoherant ramblings. Trust me dude, your elevens are up! If you’ve seen Mel Brooks’ movie Life Stinks, you’ll know exactly what I mean!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:32 pmThe Dems have the gun to Baucus’s head. If he cannot produce a bill in due time, then the rest of the Dems will work out one between themselves without Baucus and his committee. That will also mean no Republican input to stall the bill anymore.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:32 pm17. Evangenital,
2014
He crushed “Republican” Bob Kelleher, who had previously lost to Baucus as the Green Party candidate in 2002. Pity. Despite being ardently anti-abortion, Kelleher was in favour of a single-payer system.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:32 pmExactly, this is the bill that never was.
It is an example of ghost writing. It was never going anywhere to begin with. It is just busywork and pretend, nothing more.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:34 pmBaucus is a complete jerk off….
With DemoRats like this who needs enemies?
September 9th, 2009 at 2:35 pmHey wait a minute. If the repugs don’t accept baushit’s bill then that mean his ass is making the changes and for what? I mean who is he appeasing?
I say put the the choice healthcare option (public option, for the smart people) out there. A few white men shouldn’t have the responsibility of choosing my healthcare plan.
the teabaggin repugs and the repug asskissers are coming between me and my doctor.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:35 pmActually Baucus is dead now. He let his aide Liz Fowler write this junk he’s put out. Liz worked for Baucus for years but, left him for 2 years to work as a VP at Wellpoint. The insurance company that owns Blue Cross! So he let this woman come back and write this gift to the insurance industry? See Max also wants to fine us if we don’t purchase insurance from his pimps! I wonder what Max’s concession speech will sound like in 2012. There was already an article in the Montana local paper a few weeks ago which outed him for his large sums of cash he’s gotten from the insurance industry. Also, the report on Crooks and Liars today which state that Max voted for the Bush Tax cuts which from 2001-2006 are costing us 2.48 Trillion dollars. That’s right, twice the amount that healthcare would. Those tax cuts were added to the deficit while healthcare is being done deficit neutral. That means we won’t be paying for it like we’re paying for those tax cuts for the rich! Bye Bye Max!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:39 pmguessing the repugs side all they can do is lie cheat steal make crap up cause they sure as hell do not know how to legislate any thing of real value to this country.
I also will have to wait until tonight before I make any other statements on how dumb it can get that We The People are not listen to. Which We The People can and will make a statement at the polls in 2010 and 2012, 2014,2016>>> or until we get real politicization who will be of help to us The People.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:40 pmExactly! What makes any Dem think they’ll be safe. We’re already thinking about challengers to Obama. Yes, it’s gotten that serious. I believe after the pushback from us last week, the President will have to be clear about what he expects in this bill. The rest will be up to us. If Baucus and his co conspirators think they’re going to screw us out of a public option when Obama campaigned on it for 2 years, they are sadly mistaken. Just wait until you see the ads from moveon.org and other groups slamming each and every one of them and the amounts they’ve taken from the pimps! It’s insulting that they think they can just trash what the President has been asking for and put their crap in it’s place. I didn’t vote for Baucus, Grassley, Snowe or any of the other weasels who are now showing their true colors! We’re not going to take this. If we can get Progressives and Liberals to hold their ground on this, it will be Baucus and the Blue Dogs who’ll be put on the spot and in the spotlight! Let’s kick their asses!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pmI wish that were true. As long as the lobby system that exists now is in place then it is votes for sale as we are seeing now.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pmIt doesn’t matter what Baucus does if he’s not going to include the public option in his bill.
If Baucus’ bill has mandates that will fine/penalize those of us who do not buy insurance from the same companies that are robbing us blind – what’s the point?!
Help me understand how we’re supposed to trust Max (Fox) Baucus?!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:50 pmDems eat their own.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:51 pmYour one to talk – conservative guy – when Rethuglicans refuse to resolve any issues and offer no viable solutions to anything. Rethugs would rather watch America’s economy crash and burn. Rethuglican conservatives are worse than blue dogs. They’re the scum of the earth!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pmAt least we truly have Americans best interest at heart. How’s the failing conservative movement doing?
September 9th, 2009 at 2:56 pmIt should spark an outcry from everyone! The very idea that we would be mandated to buy insurance but, not be given a choice other than the garbage that’s already out there. Just who the hell do these people think they are? This should cause a serious revolt from the American people once they understand that this is what we’re being offered. They didn’t mandate that people only buy American cars during the Cash for Clunkers. How the hell do they think they’ll get awaty with this. In fact, this would be socialism. Forcing us to buy insurance from these crooks! I expect Max’s bill to be ridiculed and pushed aside by the Liberals and Progressives. Especially if they frame it exactly the way it is! It’s robbery!
September 9th, 2009 at 2:56 pmOn the slightly off topic of lobbying, it’s looking like it will get worse instead of better. I hate it:
Supreme Court receptive to freer election spending
September 9th, 2009 at 2:59 pm#29
September 9th, 2009 at 3:00 pmBaucus is not a dem. He’s a lying scumbag whore who cares more for his corporate donors than his constituents, and who therefore belongs to the flying monkey party. So give him his wings already.
ConservaTROLL
Why havent you killed yourself yet? Show some self respect man. Go kill yourself. Every decent human being is disgusted by your putrid presence. Spare humanity from being afflicted with your galactic level stupidity. Go away and do the right thing. Everyone who has ever even SEEN you wants you to do the right thing. Go. Afflict mankind no more.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:05 pmWhat’s really telling is that people in small states like Baucus wouldn’t have to worry about donors if they voted for what the majority of the party and the country wants…a public option. No offense but, how much does it cost to run ads in podunk anyway? It’s not like these people are in New York or even here in New Jersey where I live. No, the problem is that people like Baucus are nothing but cash whoring cretins who have their hands out to anyone offering to put something in it. He’s as good as gone.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:07 pmSnowe is on MSNBC and appears to be endorsing the trigger option. It is beginning to look like the Republicans are becoming irrelevant.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:09 pmThe trigger option will be seen as a huge win for the Republicans. They’re going to claim that they stopped the goverment “Death Panels” and “Socialized Medicine” and replaced them with improved competition from the private sector.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pmPublic option: give it the opportunity for a yes or no vote, with everyone on record. Blue Dog Dems need to vote for cloture or lose their status with the Democratic leadership and with colleagues. They can vote their conscience, constituents’ wishes, or lobbyists’ wishes on the final vote if they need to. But they must let the public option be put up to a vote.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pmSo, you make compromises to get Republican support and then you keep those compromises in even when no Republicans actually support the bill? That’s just stupid.
As to the trigger, the industry has had since the Clinton years to get their act together. How many more decades of subpar healthcare do we need to suffer before we learn that the profit motive will forever prevent these private corporations from providing good value for money? Clearly, a couple more. Oh well.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:47 pmThanks for nothing, Max. Why don’t you take a long walk on the old Appalachian trail.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:28 pmGo for it. Let’s see if it passes.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pmThank you for your sharing.!
September 11th, 2009 at 4:02 pmWill that really matter? Mark Baucus himself is no better than a Republican, in fact, he’s the very spokesman for the healthcare industry. With all the bribes, kickbacks and pork he’s taken from them, he can’t afford but to be just that. Democrats are now just as whored as the Republicans are. jinekomasti
September 15th, 2009 at 7:39 am