It’s not ironclad, but it’s the first strong sign that Sen. Max Baucus’ health care reform bill might win the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) when all’s said and done.
She, along with Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) have released a joint statement ‘commending’ Baucus’ efforts and saying, basically, if consensus is to be found, it will be here.
“We commend Chairman Baucus for his efforts to forge a health care reform proposal that has the potential to gain broad bipartisan support,” the statement reads. “While we each have outstanding concerns we wish to see addressed, Senator Baucus has taken an important and critical step forward with this legislation, which is budget neutral and reduces future health care costs according to CBO.”
This isn’t the same thing as a wholesale endorsement of the bill, but it’s a step in that direction from Snowe, who just yesterday was emphasizing her concerns. You can read the entire statement below the fold.
Late update: Chuck Todd reads a bit more into the statement than I do.
“We commend Chairman Baucus for his efforts to forge a health care reform proposal that has the potential to gain broad bipartisan support. We are encouraged by his commitment to work with both Democrats and Republicans in the Finance Committee, and believe there is a responsibility for both sides of the aisle to work together to develop a bill that will earn strong support from the full Senate.
“Despite the differences that have emerged in this health care debate, there is much that we all agree on, including insurance market reforms that bar insurance companies from discriminating against people based on their health status or denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions. We also agree on prevention and wellness investments, critical delivery reforms like paying for quality rather than quantity, increasing access to care by improving health care provider training programs, and reducing uncompensated care by extending tax credits to American families to help pay for their health care coverage.
“Each of us has an obligation to put aside partisan views and to consider how health care reform addresses the needs and challenges faced by individual citizens and our economy as a whole. While we each have outstanding concerns we wish to see addressed, Senator Baucus has taken an important and critical step forward with this legislation, which is budget neutral and reduces future health care costs according to CBO. We will continue to work together in the full Senate on bipartisan health care reform that reduces costs, improves care, and expands access.”
