WASHINGTON – The top Senate Democrat says the final committee vote on health care legislation will take place next week.
Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid said the Finance Committee will vote at that time on a 10-year, $829 billion proposal that covers 94 percent of eligible Americans while reducing the deficit. The positive estimate by the Congressional Budget Office was a breakthtrough for Montana Sen. Max Baucus, the plan’s author.
Reid strongly criticized Republicans who are virtually unanimous in opposition, saying GOP leaders don’t want to be “productive partners,” but “partisan protesters” instead. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the good news on costs is “irrelevant” because Democrats will pump up the Baucus bill to make it more expensive.