An aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says, “Although we don’t agree with everything in this bill, Finance Committee’s mark represents critical momentum in this process.”
In particular, leadership approves of the bill’s efficiency and cost-cutting measures including changes to Medicare, and promotion of preventative care.
The goal for leadership at this point is to get a bill out of committee, ideally with Olympia Snowe’s vote, but, alternatively, with Democrats only. What remains unclear is the extent (if any) to which the bill would become more liberal if zero Republicans ultimately vote for it. Already, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has said he can not support the bill as it is, and, if no Republicans vote for it, Rockefeller’s the only vote Max Baucus can afford to lose on the left and still pass a bill.
