Dem Sen. Max Baucus Caves To "You Lie!" Congressman On Health Care Bill

[democracy1st]

Baucus, Conrad Cave To Joe Wilson On Health Care Bill


WASHINGTON — Health care negotiators in the Senate pressed for a way to ensure that illegal immigrants can't get access to government-funded insurance, a contentious issue now front and center after a Republican congressman's outburst during President Barack Obama's speech.

The issue is one of several thorny problems that came up as a small group of negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee met Friday morning. Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., is aiming to finalize legislation on Obama's health overhaul by next week – though whether it's bipartisan or not remains to be seen.

Members of the group said they thought they'd settled the question of illegal immigration, but it came to the fore this week when Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" at Obama during his speech Wednesday. Obama had said illegal immigrants wouldn't be covered under his health plan.

Senators said that's forced the committee to work on provisions verifying legal status before an individual can get coverage.

"We've always been there, but we have to make sure to get the right process and language," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, one member of the so-called Gang of Six of three Republicans and three Democrats whom Baucus is leading.

Such verification can be tricky. Many Democrats fear that verification procedures keep legal residents from getting insurance, and in the House, they rejected Republican attempts to add verification requirements to the House health care bill.

The negotiators put off extensive discussion of the illegal immigration issue until Monday and said aides would be working on language on that and abortion over the weekend.

Friday's session focused largely on how an expansion of Medicaid would affect states, and on possible provisions to keep down medical malpractice costs.

The prognosis for bipartisan resolution remained cloudy, with Baucus prepared to go it alone even without Snowe and Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/11/baucus-conrad-cave-to-joe_n_283246.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Baucus, Sir, Must Be Stripped Of His Chairmanship

If Reid does not do it, and soon, it will not trouble me to see him beaten by a Republican next year.

This sort of thing has to stop.

[berni_mccoy]

3. Indeed.

[Overseas]

4. I agree. On both counts.

Especially if Democrats add Sons of Confederate Veterans member "Joe" Wilson's seat to our side.

[Barack_America]

2. Feelings of Baucus aside, how is it a cave?

When similar language was already written in the House bill and widely anticipated in the Senate version?

Are the verification standards expected to be that different?

[Overseas]

5. All that was required was-- "Read the bill, idiot!" as a reply.

Baucus is humoring a racist SOB who disrespected his Commander in Chief in an unprecedented manner.

[Bolo Boffin]

6. Maybe if we start screaming "You Lie" at Obama when he says he prefers a public option

then Baucus will run to put it in. You think?

[polichick]

7. David Shuster just went off on Baucus and Conrad...

Good ~ what fools!

The way Dems accomodate the ridiculous demands of others simply makes them look weak ~ this goes for the president too.