Talkingpointsmemo: Politico Reports Baucus Says No Bill by August Recess

[flpoljunkie]

Politico: Baucus Says No Bill By August Recess

By Brian Beutler - July 31, 2009, 9:10AM

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) says his health care negotiations won't bear fruit before the August recess, according to Politico.

The report, if accurate, comes a day after Republicans ground negotiations to a halt out of frustration with pressure from Democratic leaders who want the committee to produce a bill before the end of next week. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), the most conservative Republican at the table, is facing significant pressure from his own party's leadership to slow down the negotiations, or scuttle them entirely. But Baucus is committed to a consensus bill. His counterpart, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has indicated that he won't sign on to a bill unless a Republican other than moderate Olympia Snowe (R-ME) signs on as well. And as such, they've given Enzi--no moderate he--a great deal of say over the terms of the negotiations.

Late update: Here's Roll Call with the corroborating quote: "It's clear there will not be a markup next week," Baucus said. "That's clear. But nevertheless, we are as committed, if not more committed, to find a bipartisan agreement."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/politico-baucus-says-no-bill-by-august-recess.php

[Beetwasher]

1. Fuck Him, Take His Gavel

Rotten scumbag.

[Bill219]

3. If that story pissed you off...

then you are going to love this one about Baucus

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200907302105dowjonesdjonline001148&title=us-sen-finance-staffer-exhorts-lobbyists-to-get-behind-talks


US Sen Finance Staffer Exhorts Lobbyists To Get Behind Talks


By Martin Vaughan, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- A top staffer for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., warned a group of business lobbyists Thursday that if they don't help bipartisan Senate negotiations on health care to succeed, they might get stuck with Democrat- written provisions they won't like.

The remarks by Jon Selib, chief of staff to Baucus, were made in a closed-door meeting with about 20 lobbyists for employer groups and the insurance industry, and recounted to Dow Jones by people in the meeting.

read more at link.....

[The Magistrate]

4. Hear Hear, Sir!

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

[City Lights]

5. +1. nt

[havocmom]

2. Mebbe I'll mosey over to that BBQ & 'hoedown' at the Baucus family ranch after all...

err, is that a hoedown, a throw down, or could it become a (lobbyist) whore down?

[SpartanDem]

6. Where the hell is Reid?

he should've forced him to report a bill