Baucus' plan is a non-starter. He's still trying to finalize it and find votes.

[ProSense]

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has circulated the framework for a comprehensive health care reform bill among his five bipartisan negotiating partners to gauge their positions on legislation that they have been discussing since June, sources said Monday.

In presenting the proposal Sunday, Baucus asked the group of Finance Committee negotiators to consider the framework and be prepared to offer feedback and even counteroffers when they meet again Tuesday. Baucus made clear the proposal is not a final product or a bill ready for committee action (or “chairman’s mark”), and does not include everything that might be included in legislation that he might ultimately move forward with.

But Democratic and Republican sources said Monday morning that Baucus was prepared to treat the proposal as a final, take it-or-leave it offer, depending on the response that the framework gets Tuesday from the Republicans in the gang of six, which includes Baucus, Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) and Kent Conrad (N.D.), and GOP Sens. Mike Enzi (Wyo.) , Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the committee ranking member.

Baucus’ proposal does not include a public insurance option to compete with private health insurers — a measure staunchly opposed by most Republicans, including those in the group of six. A Senate Democratic source said Monday that the omission of a public insurance option is not likely to go over well with those Democrats who favor that component, which could create problems for Baucus’ framework going forward even if Enzi, Grassley and Snowe decide to back it.

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(emphasis added)



edited typo

[neverforget]

1. worst. plan. ever. This is what happens when you "negotiate" with

people that have no intention of negotiating. They throw a fit and you capitulate on everything meaningful.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. And then they STILL don't vote for it

if past experience is any indication.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Just get something out of that sink-hole of a committee so we can move on.

[freddie mertz]

3. Let us hope so.

Baucus is no Democrat and no patriot.

[Phx_Dem]

5. $900B cost and no public option (or any other option)?! FAIL!!

Take your bill and shove it up your ass Max.