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.

Baucus Shoots Down GOP Amendment

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

While Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee welcomed and praised the work from the Republican members during the continuation of the markup of America’s Healthy Future Act, Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) worked fast to shoot down an amendment proposed by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), calling it "Unconstitutional", due to the fact that it requires a congressional agency to issue an order that has consequences towards the executive branch.

According to Baucus, the Republican Senator did not have enough data to back up an amendment that would require Congressional Budget Office certification for cuts made to Medicare advantage.

Republican committee members continued to urge a slow markup process while Democratic members requested that the committee move faster, noting that thousands of Americans continue to lose their health coverage.

With approximately 500 amendments proposed, the markup is expected to last well beyond Wednesday.