Top Senate Democrats Baucus, Kennedy say they’ll work together on health care overhaul

October 13th, 2009 AP Interview: Baucus unsure how Snowe would voteWASHINGTON — Sen. Max Baucus says he didn't know for sure that Republican Senator Olympia Snowe would vote in favor of his health care overhaul bill until she actually did so.

September 24th, 2009 Tensions on rise in health care debateWASHINGTON — Tempers are flaring as the Senate Finance Committee starts its third day of exhaustive deliberations on a sweeping overhaul of the health care system. Republican Sen.

September 23rd, 2009 Health care issues: Using parliamentary maneuversA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: If Senate Republicans continue to oppose Democratic plans to overhaul the nation's health care system, should majority Democrats employ a process called "reconciliation" to pass parts of it without Republican support? THE POLITICS: Reconciliation is a procedure used to protect bills from being filibustered to death. It effectively lowers the threshold for Senate passage from 60 votes to a simple majority of 51.

September 9th, 2009 Kennedy is gone, but health care still his issueWASHINGTON — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is gone, but his legacy is vital to President Barack Obama's high-stakes case for health care overhaul as his party struggles on Capitol Hill to agree on its terms.

September 1st, 2009 Baucus predicts health care overhaul this yearHELENA, Mont. — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says a health care overhaul will happen this year even if Republicans back out of bipartisan talks under growing public pressure and that the death of Sen.

September 1st, 2009 Baucus says there will be health care overhaulHELENA, Mont. — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says a health care overhaul will happen this year even if Republicans back out of bipartisan talks under growing public pressure and that the death of Sen.

August 30th, 2009 Kerry: Kennedy would compromise if necessaryWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy would have been ready to compromise on overhauling health care, but negotiations had not yet reached that point.

August 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.

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.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.

July 12th, 2009 Lawmakers say health overhaul has been slowedWASHINGTON — Top members of Congress say it's unlikely they will meet President Barack Obama's August deadline for a sweeping health care overhaul. Lawmakers on Sunday said they will not rush on a health care overhaul that isn't even in final form yet.

June 5th, 2009 Public plan threatens bipartisan health dealWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's hopes for a bipartisan health deal seemed in jeopardy Thursday as GOP senators protested his renewed support for a new public health insurance plan, and a key Democratic chairman declared that such a plan would likely be in the Senate's bill. A public plan that would compete with private insurers is opposed by nearly all Republicans.

June 4th, 2009 GOP senators: Bipartisan health deal tougher nowWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's hopes for a bipartisan health deal took a hit Thursday as GOP senators protested a letter he wrote declaring support for a public insurance plan. Such a plan would compete with private insurers and is opposed by nearly all Republicans.

June 2nd, 2009 White House frames health care as economic problemWASHINGTON — A Senate chairman who has a major role in writing health care legislation said Tuesday he hopes to convince President Barack Obama that taxing some employer-provided benefits will help control escalating costs. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., may face a hard sell.

April 23rd, 2009 Democrats want speedy health care debateWASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House went on record again Wednesday in favor of advancing health care legislation while allowing only limited debate, which would minimize the ability of Republicans to wrest concessions on one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities. By a 227-196 vote, the House affirmed Democrats' plans to move health care legislation under rules that block Republicans in the Senate from being able to slow — or even stop — it from proceeding.