Sen. Max Baucus bent over backward to please Republicans with his insurance-friendly vision of health care reform, which forces everyone to buy private insurance and has no public option, but the very Republicans he negotiated with now won’t have anything to do with the bill.

They’re not alone. The Atlantic runs through a list of the major players and finds that “the Gang of Six appears to have dwindled to a Wolfpack of One.”

Baucus’ bill is more of a negotiating position than the final word. Whatever legislation emerges will be an amalgam of the various proposals in the House and Senate. We can only hope that it is not a Frankenstein monster of compromise — a Baucus bill on a grander scale. — PS

Links: The New York Times breaks down the Baucus bill / The Atlantic sums up the discontent / Read the Chairman’s Mark

 WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#corruption#health#health care#house of representatives#insurance#max baucus#politics#public option#republicans#senate