White House: Health care session with bipartisan group of senators not a negotiation

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 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.

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 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.

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 4th, 2009 Obama and allies brace for health care showdownWASHINGTON — Bracing for an August showdown over health care reform, Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama declared themselves united Tuesday on their determination to enact a historic overhaul this year — ideally with Republican cooperation but without if necessary. With his top domestic priority hanging in the balance, Obama summoned Senate Democrats to the White House for a luncheon cheerleading session on health care and other pending issues.

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.

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 21st, 2009 Budget chief: Docs fees not paid for in Obama billWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's pledge to make sure health care legislation is fully paid for excludes $245 billion to raise fees for doctors treating Medicare patients, a senior administration official said Tuesday. Peter Orszag, the budget director, said the administration always had assumed the money would be spent to prevent a cut of more than 20 percent in doctor fees that is scheduled to take effect.

June 28th, 2009 Axelrod expects Senate to tackle health care firstWASHINGTON — A top presidential adviser says it probably will be the fall before the Senate deals with a major climate change bill that just passed the House. White House aide David Axelrod says he thinks health care overhaul will be the first thing on senators' agenda.

June 24th, 2009 Lawmaker: White House wants bipartisan health planWASHINGTON — Even as President Barack Obama and the insurance industry move toward open confrontation over the role of government in health care, his administration is telling lawmakers to keep pushing for a bipartisan deal. Obama on Tuesday dismissed as "not logical" the insurance lobby's assertion that a new government health plan he backs would dismantle the employer-sponsored coverage most Americans now have.

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.

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.

May 11th, 2009 Obama's Day: Health care, basketballWASHINGTON — Reforming the health care system to make it affordable for all Americans is one of President Barack Obama's top priorities. Obama plans to talk Monday about a health care industry offer of $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program.