Baucus, Kennedy, Will ‘Seek Common Ground’ on Health Care Reform

By Kellyn Brown, 6-01-09

Democratic Sens. Max Baucus, Mont., and Edward Kennedy, Mass., sent out a joint statement over the weekend vowing to work together on health care reform legislation. From The New York Times:

“For both of us, reforming the nation’s health care system to cut cost, improve quality and provide affordable coverage remains the top priority on our two committees. We have worked together closely over many months and will continue to do so. We intend to ensure that our committees report similar and complementary legislation that can be quickly merged into one bill for consideration on the Senate floor before the August recess.”

After Kennedy began circulating his own health care plan last week, one in which differed from Baucus’ by requiring a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, pundits in Washington, D.C., had speculated that the two senators were split on key details in any potential reform bill. For now, at least, it appears the two men spearheading the health care legislation are on the same page. [End of article]