Baucus to Bag Own Fundraiser as Health Care Talks Continue
Updated: 1:27 p.m.Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) confirmed Thursday afternoon that he would not be flying home this weekend to attend his annual “Camp Baucus— fundraising event, opting instead to stay in Washington, D.C., to work on health care reform.Baucus said it was possible that the six bipartisan Finance negotiators would meet this weekend to continue their negotiations on health care reform. The group of three Democrats and three Republicans, led by Baucus and Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), is attempting to craft a consensus reform bill before the Senate breaks for recess Aug. 7.Baucus indicated it was unlikely that the group would meet Thursday but said the talks could continue on Friday, particularly if floor votes are scheduled. He said the possibility of weekend negotiating sessions are “on the table— but was generally noncommittal on how things might go between Thursday and Sunday.Camp Baucus is set to run Friday through Sunday in Big Sky, Mont.