Baucus unveiling health bill without GOP on board

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul




By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 26 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Sen. Max Baucus' decision to release his long-awaited health care overhaul bill with no Republicans on board dims the chances for a bipartisan compromise on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The Senate Finance Committee chairman insisted Tuesday that he'll keep negotiating with the three Republicans and two fellow Democrats who've been in closed-door talks with him for months on the bill he was to reveal Wednesday. Baucus, D-Mont., said he hopes that by the time the committee votes on the bill, as early as next week, Republicans will be there.

EDIT TO ADD: This increases the chances for the PO by a power of 10

I have to repeat Barney Frank's question: On what planet does he normally reside?

of our blue dogs. The republicans are not going to move one inch. We can now say with a straight face, we tried every which way but up,, and the republicans did not give an inch. So we are free to jam it through. PO all the way. It will not work without the PO, especially if we use mandates.

In the end it plays much better this way. We got them coming and going.