Rollcall via Talkingpointsmemo: Senate Finance Talks Come to a Halt

Finance Negotiations Hit Roadblock

July 30, 2009, 5 p.m.
By Emily Pierce and David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff

Bipartisan Senate health care talks have screeched to a halt over partisan accusations that each side is pressuring the other to walk away from the negotiating table.

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) attempted Thursday afternoon to put a happy face on the hiccup, but it was clear there was more than a scheduling conflict keeping his committee’s gang of six bipartisan negotiators from meeting Thursday. Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was tight-lipped about the situation, but issued a statement criticizing Democratic leaders for trying to force the group to prematurely announce an accord.

“It’ll be a lost opportunity if Democratic leaders in Congress and the administration force action on health care legislation that’s not ready because of the complexity of the issue and the high stakes in getting it right,” Grassley said. “The bipartisan discussions that Chairman Baucus has led in the Senate Finance Committee have made very good progress because of his long-term commitment to bipartisanship and could lead to a bill that makes things better, not worse, but that’ll never happen if Democrat leaders tell Republicans to take a hike by forcing the committee to move on an all-Democrat bill.”

Another GOP Finance negotiator, Sen. Mike Enzi (Wyo.), echoed that charge, saying Democrats were putting pressure on Baucus and the rest of the group to come to a deal before the end of next week, when the Senate is scheduled to leave town for a monthlong recess. A Democrats-only meeting of the Finance Committee is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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