AP Sources: Bipartisan Senate negotiators have Sept. 15 deadline on health care

September 22nd, 2009 Top Republican: Bipartisan cooperation on holdWASHINGTON — The top Republican writing a Senate health care bill says bipartisan cooperation is over — for now. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa blamed Democratic leaders for imposing a deadline to get the bill moving by mid September.

September 16th, 2009 White House: Senate health bill a 'building block'WASHINGTON — The White House says a health care reform bill from a key Senate committee is "an important building block" in getting closer to comprehensive health care reform. Sen. Max Baucus released the long-awaited version of the bill from his Senate Finance committee Wednesday.

September 14th, 2009 Senate negotiators pare costs of health care planWASHINGTON — Senate health care negotiators said Monday they've cut the cost of their 10-year coverage plan to under $880 billion, but they're not ready to shake hands yet on a bipartisan deal. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said he'll have a formal proposal by midweek — maybe as early as Tuesday — to meet a deadline for moving ahead on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority with or without Republican support.

September 14th, 2009 Near deadline, health care negotiators "close"WASHINGTON — Senate health care negotiators said Monday they've narrowed their differences on a host of difficult issues with just a day or so left to seal an elusive bipartisan deal that could change the course of the contentious debate. After months of closed-door negotiations, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said, "We're getting very close." But it remained unclear if the Montana Democrat could strike a bargain that would mark a turning point for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

September 11th, 2009 Health negotiators focus on illegal immigrantsWASHINGTON — 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.

September 4th, 2009 Liberals push Obama for health care public optionWASHINGTON — House liberals pleaded with President Barack Obama on Friday to push for creation of a government-run health care program as the Senate's chief negotiator said he won't wait much longer for Republicans to compromise amid dwindling chances for a bipartisan bill. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., held a nearly two-hour teleconference with his small group of negotiators, who call themselves the "Bipartisan Six." Afterward, Baucus was careful to leave the door open to a long-sought deal, but he clearly signaled the time has come for him to move ahead.

September 4th, 2009 Liberals push Obama to make gov't-run health careWASHINGTON — House liberals pleaded with President Barack Obama on Friday to push for creation of a government-run health care program as the Senate's chief negotiator said he won't wait much longer for Republicans to compromise amid dwindling chances for a bipartisan bill. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., held a nearly two-hour teleconference with his small group of negotiators, who call themselves the "Bipartisan Six." Afterward, Baucus was careful to leave the door open to a long-sought deal, but he clearly signaled the time has come for him to move ahead.

August 21st, 2009 Snowe: Challenge to break through 'chatter'WASHINGTON — Bipartisan health care negotiators are aiming to cut the costs of their bill after getting an earful from voters, a participant in the closed-door talks said Friday. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, a moderate whose support could be crucial if President Barack Obama is to realize his goal of a comprehensive health care overhaul, said contact with constituents "sharpened our focus on issues such as affordability and cost." "We keep reinventing the wheel in terms of our approach based on what we learn at home," Snowe told The Associated Press.

August 21st, 2009 Senate negotiators aim to cut costs in health billWASHINGTON — Bipartisan health care negotiators are aiming to cut the costs of their bill after getting an earful from voters, a participant in the closed-door talks said Friday. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, a moderate whose support could be crucial if President Barack Obama is to realize his goal of a comprehensive health care overhaul, said contact with constituents "sharpened our focus on issues such as affordability and cost." "We keep reinventing the wheel in terms of our approach based on what we learn at home," Snowe told The Associated Press.

August 19th, 2009 Bipartisan health talks to continue by phoneWASHINGTON — A key Democratic committee chairman involved in talks on a compromise health care plan said Wednesday they are on track to reach agreement. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he'd prefer a bipartisan deal but "patience is not unlimited." Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said his group of three Democrats and three Republicans "is on track to reach a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive health care reform" that can pass a divided Senate.

August 4th, 2009 Reid: Democratic senators united on health careWASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says his party's caucus has "absolute unity" on the need to pass health care reform this year. The Nevadan, joined by other lawmakers, spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon on a White House driveway after Senate Democrats met over lunch with President Barack Obama.

August 3rd, 2009 Dems vow health bill with or without RepublicansWASHINGTON — Frustrated with the pace of bipartisan talks, Democratic leaders on Monday promised to push a sweeping health care bill through the Senate whether they get Republican support or not. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the third-ranking Senate Democrat, raised the prospect of the leadership crafting a bill to Democratic specifications and using a rare legislative procedure to expedite legislation fulfilling President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

July 30th, 2009 GOP senator says health care bill not readyWASHINGTON — A key Republican senator involved in bipartisan talks on health care says there's no way a breakthrough will happen before lawmakers' August recess. Wyoming Sen.

July 29th, 2009 Senate negotiators pare cost of health overhaulWASHINGTON — Senators trying to reach a bipartisan compromise on health care overhaul are reporting progress paring the costs of the plan as they push for a deal this week. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, the Democrat leading the negotiations, said Wednesday new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office show the plan that's taking shape would cover 95 percent of Americans by 2015, and cost about $900 billion over 10 years.

June 23rd, 2009 AP sources: Cost of Senate plan coming downWASHINGTON — Officials say key Senate Democrats have whittled more than $400 billion off the cost of a health care plan that carried a $1.6 trillion price tag a week ago, and they continue to seek cuts. One senator, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, says the changes so far include reduced subsidies to help the uninsured purchase coverage, as well as other undisclosed changes.