Frist Supports Health Bill

Staff / Truthdig Oct 3, 2009 Good to know there are some seemingly dyed-in-the-wool GOP types who are at least partly open to some of the health care reform proposals knocking around the halls of Congress. Count among that tiny minority the former Senate Republican chief Bill Frist, who says he'd vote for the measure despite its shortcomings. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Public Option Only Looks Dead

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Oct 1, 2009 The strangest aspect of the debate over a public option for health coverage is that the centrists who oppose it should actually love it. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Senate Panel Votes Down Abortion Amendment in Baucus Bill

Staff / Truthdig Sep 30, 2009 Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch tried, and ultimately failed, to add an amendment to the health care hydra that Max Baucus' reform bill has become. This one would have required women to buy separate policies for abortion-related services. Even the formerly reticent Sen. Olympia Snowe cast a "no" vote on this one. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Baucus & Co. Shoot Down Public Option Amendment

Staff / Truthdig Sep 29, 2009 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and his merry band of legislators on Tuesday nixed an amendment proposing that a government-backed "public option" be included in Baucus' contested health care reform plan, using the argument that the public option addition would further diminish the bill's chances of passing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Brave New Baucus Bill Primer

Staff / Truthdig Sep 29, 2009 As this commentary from the vigilant videographers over at Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films outfit points out, Sen. Max Baucus' health care reform bill definitely would serve the interests of at least some interested parties -- namely, the health insurance companies themselves. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Health Reform Money Is Aimed at Red States

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Sep 24, 2009 Sen. Max Baucus' health care plan would shift massive amounts of tax money away from traditionally blue states. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

A Clunker, Not a Cadillac

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Sep 22, 2009 Finally, a health care proposal George W. Bush could love. Sen. Max Baucus' idea to tax "Cadillac" insurance plans has been pushed by Republicans for years. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Baucus Planning Health Care Bill 2.0

Staff / Truthdig Sep 22, 2009 After receiving a less-than-spectacular reception from his congressional colleagues for his health care reform bill last week, Sen. Max Baucus is going back to the drawing board to work on some big changes in an effort to win more of his aforementioned peers to his side. Meanwhile, Sen. Olympia Snowe remains undeclared about his first draft. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Talk of Bipartisanship Is Now Thoroughly Warped

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Sep 21, 2009 All of the health bills on offer, even the supposedly "liberal" House bill, are already centrist compromises built on a private health insurance market. Above, Olympia Snowe, who may turn out to be the single Senate Republican voting for reform. All of the health bills on offer are already centrist compromises built on a private health insurance market. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: Baucus, Beck, Missiles and Money

Staff / Truthdig Sep 19, 2009 Russia might be pleased with President Obama's decision to nix Bush's missile shield plans, but how about Eastern Europe? Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus' health care reform plan foundered, and Obama made a play to get through to the powers on Wall Street. All this -- plus the Glenn Becking of American political discourse -- is part of this week's discussion on "Left, Right & Center." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Baucus Bill Lands With a Whimper

Staff / Truthdig Sep 16, 2009 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Does Max Baucus Represent Montana or Blue Cross?

Staff / Truthdig Sep 8, 2009 After months of tedious wheeling and dealing (mostly dealing), Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., has finally unveiled his compromise health care proposal. To no one's surprise, Baucus, who has raised millions from the health industry, has axed the public option in favor of nonprofit cooperatives. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )