Senate Finance Committee vote slips as lawmakers wait for cost figures

October 8th, 2009 After long debate, health care Senate vote TuesdayWASHINGTON — The top Senate Democrat says the final committee vote on health care legislation will take place next week. Nevada Democratic Sen.

October 7th, 2009 Senate health care bill to cost $829 billionWASHINGTON — Health care legislation drafted by a key Senate committee would expand coverage to 94 percent of the eligible population at a 10-year cost of $829 billion, congressional budget experts said Wednesday in a preliminary estimate. The Congressional Budget Office added that the measure would reduce federal deficits by $81 billion over a decade and probably lead to "continued reductions in federal budget deficits" in the years beyond.

October 6th, 2009 Higher taxes in health care billWASHINGTON — Congressional tax experts say Senate health care legislation would impose $29 billion more in taxes on health care industries than originally thought. The Joint Committee on Taxation says drug companies, medical device manufacturers and insurers would pay $121 billion over 10 years as a result of taxes in the Senate Finance Committee bill.

October 6th, 2009 Health Care reform bill could cost Tenn. $735MNASHVILLE, Tenn.

September 30th, 2009 Public plan goes down in Senate Finance CommitteeWASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee has voted against creating a new government health insurance plan to compete with the private market. The 15-to-8 vote could forecast the fate of the public option in the Senate as a whole.

September 30th, 2009 Panel votes to restore abstinence education moneyWASHINGTON — A Senate committee voted Tuesday night to restore $50 million a year in federal funding for abstinence-only education that President Barack Obama has pushed to eliminate. The 12-11 vote by the Senate Finance Committee came over objections from its chairman, Democratic Sen.

August 19th, 2009 White House: Obama would go to moon for his goalWASHINGTON — How far is President Barack Obama willing to go for a deal on overhauling the health care system? Try all the way to the moon. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs joked Wednesday that Obama would orbit the moon if he thought it would help get a deal on a bill Congress can vote on after it returns from summer break.

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.

July 16th, 2009 Democrats to set first Sotomayor vote next weekWASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman says he'll set a vote in his panel next week on confirming Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy says the vote will be Tuesday unless committee Republicans object.

July 15th, 2009 Sen. Kennedy's committee passes health care billWASHINGTON — The Senate health committee has passed legislation to revamp health care, becoming the first congressional committee to act on President Barack Obama's goal of overhauling the system this year. The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 13-10 along party lines to pass a $600-billion measure that would expand coverage to nearly all Americans by requiring individuals get insurance and employers to contribute to the cost.

June 18th, 2009 Delays, disputes slow progress of health care billWASHINGTON — Delays and disputes bogged down a Senate panel considering the details of remaking the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system. The first formal drafting and voting session on Sen.

June 16th, 2009 AP sources: Senate health overhaul costs top $1.6TWASHINGTON — The latest cost estimates for health care legislation in Congress are around $1.6 trillion over 10 years, two Senate sources said Tuesday as concerns mounted over the price tag for the sweeping overhaul. Two Senate staffers, one Democratic and one Republican, said Congressional Budget Office estimates put the cost of the Finance Committee version of the bill at around $1.6 trillion.

April 23rd, 2009 Senate vote on Sebelius likely to slipWASHINGTON — Republican objections to immediate Senate action on President Barack Obama's health secretary nominee will probably push a final vote to next week. It's the latest snag for Obama's attempts to get a Health and Human Services secretary in place to work on a health care overhaul.

January 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Senate Finance Committee Thursday approved Timothy Geithner's nomination to be Treasury secretary in President Barack Obama's administration, paving the way for Geithner's confirmation by the full US Senate. The Finance Committee voted 18-5 to send Geithner's nomination to the Senate, which could confirm his appointment later this week.