The Baucus Bill (NYT Editorial)

[dtotire]

The Baucus Bill


Published: October 10, 2009

The Senate Finance Committee may finally be ready to vote on its version of a health care reform bill. For months, its chairman, Max Baucus, and other members have struggled to produce legislation that could win significant Republican support. Fat chance. Only one Republican on the committee seems open to voting for the bill, and the entire Republican Congressional leadership seems determined — for ideological and partisan reasons — to torpedo the entire reform effort.



Still, all the months of wrangling have not gone for naught. The bill has farsighted elements that ought to be included in any final legislation — and serious defects that ought to be remedied. It would do more to contain costs and restrain future deficits than any other bill under consideration, and it is far better than allowing costs to continue escalating on their current disastrous path.



more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/opinion/11sun1.html?ref=opinion

[Pab Sungenis]

1. This bill is bad.

It's a poison pill, designed to knock out the good (still not enough, but better than nothing) measures in the Kennedy/HELP bill.

We can't allow this bill to get to the floor and be "merged with" (take over) the Kennedy Bill.

There are only 49 hours left. Call the Democrats on the committee and tell them to vote NO while they still can!

[Demeter]

2. It's the Bogus Bill n/t