Senate Finance Committee Approves Baucus Bill With 14-9 Vote

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Sevice
The Senate Finance Committee approved the America’s Healthy Future Act Tuesday with a 14-9 vote.

The legislation’s sole Republican vote came from Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine.), who has been pursued heavily by Democrats as a possible ally.

All Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the bill, including Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), who had previously expressed reservations with the bill.

“There is no way in its present form that I will vote for it, unless during the amendment process it is changed in vast amounts,” Rockefeller said mid-September.

Senate Finance Committee Prepares For Baucus Bill Vote

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As the Senate Finance Committee prepares to vote on the America's Healthy Future Act, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) used his opening remarks to congratulate the committee's members on reaching this point and urge the commitee to help further the legislation.

“Now pretty much everything’s been said. Now it’s time to get the job done," said Baucus. "The scores are in, and I am proud to say that our bill passes the test."

Sen. Olympia Snow (R-Maine.), who has been viewed by Democrats as a possible Republican ally on the bill, used her opening statement to ask CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf to keep updated analyses of the bill as it proceeds to the Senate floor, stating that it is “critically important [for senators] to be vigilant.”

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) addressed the recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, describing it as “flawed and completely incorrect."

Baucus interrupted Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-Utah) opening remarks, stating that the Republican Senator was taking too long and asking Hatch to be courteous to other senators by adhering to the time limit. Baucus tried to limit Sen. Jon Kyl's (R-Ariz.) opening statement as well, a move that visibly frustrated Kyl.

The landmark bill was confronted with 564 amendments, of which the committee considered 135. There were in total 79 roll-call votes. The committee adopted 41 amendments in total.

Tuesday marks the 8th day the committee has met to tackle the bill, making this the longest amount of time the committee has worked on a single piece of legislation in 22 years.

Baucus Accuses Republican Senator Of Attempting To "Gut And Kill" Health Care Reform

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus accused Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) of attempting to "gut and kill" health care reform legislation Thursday during the Committee's seventh day of markup for the America's Healthy Future Act.

“You want to gut the President’s program, or you want to cut health care reform," Baucus said to Crapo. He added, “you want to take away personal responsibility for individuals to buy personal coverage… this amendment guts and kills health care reform."

The amendment states "This amendment provides that no tax, fee or penalty imposed by this legislation shall be applied to any individual earning less than $200,000 per year or any couple earning less than $250,000 per year."

There was a ray of bi-partisanship Thursday when Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) introduced an amendment that would allow taxpayers to deduct over-the-counter medical products as medical expenses. Chairman Baucus along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D- Mich.) offered to assist the Senator from Kentucky on the amendment, both agreeing that it addresses an important issue.

Chairman Baucus hopes to finish the markup late Thursday night. The Finance Committee has heard arguments for 107 amendments of the 564 submitted.

Rockefeller Introduces Public Option Amendment To Finance Committee Bill

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico /Talk Radio News Service

The biggest debate on the fifth day of markup of the America’s Healthy future Act focused heavily on the “public option.” Liberal Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa.) introduced his amendment to Senate Finance Comittee Chairman Max Baucus' (D-Mont.) mark providing for a “public option,” or what he calls the “Consumer Choice Health Plan.”

The debate began with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) criticizing Rockefeller's amendment, calling it a “Trojan horse for a single payer program [that] would lead to Washington controlling health care and monitoring prices."

Rockefeller kept a stern attitude on his amendment stating that, “It would not be a government takeover." However, the West Virginia Democrat refused to answer questions put to him by Hatch.

Heavy debate ensued on non-profit insurance programs from Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and how well they have worked in his state, and how poorly the US as a whole compares to other nations. Conrad made a compelling argument for the “Mutual” based system with non-profit companies that would attempt to provide for universal healthcare coverage.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) further argued that Medicare rates would be fixed during the first two years under Rockefeller's amendment - Rockefeller proudly held up two fingers. After the two years though, explained Bingaman, rates would be further negotiated, which would essentially adjust prices to fit in line with private companies.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) compared the health care plan to universities, saying that "There’s both a private university and public university...there should be a choice."

Democrats agreed that Rockefeller’s amendment would build competition within the open market, while Republicans contended that it will bring price adjustments along with a government-run, single payer takeover of the entire healthcare system.

“This is a slippery slope to go down… it will lead to a government-run single payer option,” said Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.).

Markup is scheduled to continue late Tuesday night and will reconvene Wednesday morning.

Czar Debate Enters Baucus Bill Markup

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Friday morning brought the fourth day of the Senate Finance committee’s markup of the America’s Healthy Future Act. A large portion of Friday’s talks consisted of concerns over health care czars, keeping transparency within the bill and blocking age discrimination for premiums.

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) proposed an amendment evoking the advise and consent clause, stating that any czar associated with health care should face a Senate confirmation process similar to those required for cabinet secretaries.

Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was once again quick to deny the Republican amendments.

“The job title czar does not exist,” he countered. “Having a czar confirmed by the Senate and the chance to testify would be a waste of time."

The amendment ultimately failed with 10-13 vote.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) offered a bill that would stop age discrimination, but after more than an hour of debate on whether the amendment was germane, Kerry ultimately withdrew his amendment upon the request of Chairman Baucus.

Friday’s session recessed at noon. It will return Tuesday, September 29 at 9:30