Bipartisan negotiators say they can deliver coverage for 95 percent of Americans

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 15th, 2009 Bipartisan Baucus plan may leave Democrats coldWASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has been trying for months to write a health care bill that could win Republican support. If he succeeds he may find it's fellow Democrats he has to worry about.

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 14th, 2009 Senate negotiators narrow health care differencesWASHINGTON — 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 8th, 2009 Time running out for bipartisan health compromiseWASHINGTON — Lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill a day ahead of President Barack Obama's health care speech wasted no time Tuesday showing just how hard his selling job will be. In a fresh sign of divisions in the president's own party, a key House Democratic moderate said he can no longer support legislation that includes a new public insurance plan to compete with private industry.

September 5th, 2009 Health care bill expected soon from Senate panelWASHINGTON — Signaling it's time for action, the Senate's chief negotiator on a health care bill told his colleagues he won't wait much longer for a Republican compromise. "I am committed to getting health care reform done — done soon and done right," Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, said in a statement.

September 5th, 2009 Dem negotiator: Time here for health care actionWASHINGTON — The Senate's chief Democratic negotiator on a health care bill is indicating it's time to act and has told his colleagues he won't wait much longer for a Republican compromise. "I am committed to getting health care reform done — done soon and done right," Montana Sen.

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 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 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 1st, 2009 AP Sources: Deadline for bipartisan health effortWASHINGTON — Democratic officials say a Sept. 15 deadline has been imposed on efforts to produce a bipartisan agreement on health care legislation in the Senate.

June 29th, 2009 AP Interview: Snowe seeks bipartisan health billPORTLAND, Maine — Sen. Olympia Snowe, a key figure in shaping federal health care legislation, said Monday that a government-run plan that would take effect if the private insurance market fails to deliver affordable coverage could bridge the partisan divide that threatens to derail President Barack Obama's efforts to reform the system.