Senate Finance Committee votes down creation of public insurance plan

October 13th, 2009 Unions will oppose Baucus bill unless it's changedWASHINGTON — About 30 unions will run a full-page ad in newspapers Wednesday announcing their opposition to the Senate Finance Committee's health overhaul bill, a top labor lobbyist said. The ad will state that unions will oppose the measure on the Senate floor unless improvements are made, according to Chuck Loveless, legislative director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

October 5th, 2009 Senate committee vote slipsWASHINGTON — It's going to take a little longer for the last congressional committee writing health care legislation to finish its work. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana had hoped for a final vote by his panel on Tuesday, but a cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office isn't ready yet.

September 30th, 2009 Public plan debate could pit Democrat vs. DemocratWASHINGTON — Democrats sought to give government the right to sell insurance in competition with private industry Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee opened a second week of debate over massive health care legislation.

September 30th, 2009 More thorny challenges ahead for health overhaulWASHINGTON — A sweeping health overhaul bill has survived a major challenge from the left, but onslaughts loom from the right on thorny issues including abortion and insurance coverage for illegal immigrants. Liberal Democrats failed in two efforts Tuesday to include a government-run insurance option in the legislation before the Senate Finance Committee.

September 8th, 2009 Health care issues: The public insurance planA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Should Americans have the option of getting health insurance from a government plan that competes with private companies? THE POLITICS: Many Democrats want to do away with private insurance and replace it with something resembling Medicare coverage for all, but that's not politically feasible. Offering the choice of a government insurance plan was a compromise within the Democratic Party.

July 16th, 2009 A look at the Senate health committee billA look at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: WHO'S COVERED: Aims to cover 97 percent of Americans. COST: About $615 billion over 10 years, but it's only one piece of a larger Senate bill.

July 5th, 2009 Senators say compromise key to health care billWASHINGTON — It will take a compromise on a government option for insurance if the Senate is to agree on a health care overall before next month's break, two senators said Sunday. President Barack Obama is pushing for an Aug.

June 30th, 2009 Senate health panel readies gov't insurance optionWASHINGTON — Senators on a key committee are putting the finishing touches on a government health insurance option that they hope will win broad support among Democrats and the public. According to a draft summary circulating Tuesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee proposal calls for a nationwide plan to be run by the federal government.

June 17th, 2009 Senators dig in on massive health care legislationWASHINGTON — Eye-popping new cost estimates for President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul the U.S. health care system are forcing majority Democrats to scale back their plans to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.

June 14th, 2009 Conrad says gov't insurance plan short of supportWASHINGTON — The Democrat who heads the Senate Budget Committee says he doubts there are enough votes in the Senate to support President Barack Obama's plan for a government health insurance option. Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota says that there are good arguments for the proposal but probably not the votes it needs in the Senate.

June 8th, 2009 GOP senators respond to Obama on health careWASHINGTON — Republicans on a key Senate committee are warning President Barack Obama that he's making a mistake on health care by supporting a government insurance option for the middle class. In a letter to Obama released Monday, all but one of the Republican senators on the Finance Committee reaffirmed their opposition to a public plan, suggesting that differences on the issue could doom chances for a bipartisan bill.

May 30th, 2009 Top Democrats pledge cooperation on health careWASHINGTON — The two Senate Democrats leading the drive to overhaul health care say they will work together to come up with legislation. Sens. Max Baucus and Edward Kennedy said in a joint statement Saturday they intend to cooperate so their committees pass similar bills that can be combined into a single piece of legislation before the Senate leaves for its August recess.

May 14th, 2009 Health insurance from Uncle Sam gets a lookWASHINGTON — Look out Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Senators are meeting behind closed doors to consider whether the federal government should jump into the health insurance business.

May 5th, 2009 Health insurers try to head off public planWASHINGTON — The health insurance industry offered Tuesday to end its practice of charging higher premiums to women. It was the latest concession from health insurers as Congress works to overhaul the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system.

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.