Health Markup Back in Session
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) reconvened his markup of a health care reform bill Wednesday morning, hoping to keep the panel on track to vote on the $900 billion measure later this week.
On Tuesday, Finance members defeated two amendments on a public insurance option. The debate over the controversial provision offered a preview of the battle that’s likely to come when a final health care reform bill hits the floor. Wednesday’s markup session could see similar discussions, depending on which amendments are brought up.
On the docket are proposals dealing with the taxing of gold-plated, expensive health care insurance plans, whether the penalty for not buying health coverage should be called a fee or a tax, and how health care reform might affect small businesses.