nytimes..Baucus Offers Health Plan but Lacks G.O.P. Support

so, why did we 'give up' anyfuckingthing????????? :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

WASHINGTON — Senator Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat, on Wednesday unveiled his plan to extend health coverage to 29 million uninsured Americans, providing a detailed look at a legislative proposal that meets many of the requirements that President Obama laid out in his address to Congress last week.

The proposal is the result of more than a year of preparation by Mr. Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and three months of intense talks among a small group of Democrats and Republicans. The three Republicans in that group so far have refused to endorse the bill but negotiations will continue in the days ahead.

The Baucus plan calls for the creation of private, nonprofit health insurance cooperatives to compete with private insurers, a compromise aimed at bridging the gap between Democrats who want a government-run insurance plan and Republicans who adamantly oppose that idea.

As insurers, the cooperatives would offer their coverage plans on the exchanges and would have to meet the same requirements as private insurers.

The proposal, outlined in a 223-page summary that will eventually be translated into legislative language, would cost $774 billion over 10 years, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office — far lower than the other major health care proposals advancing in Congress, which had come in with price tags of $1 trillion or more. The budget office also said that the proposal would exceed Mr. Obama’s goal of a deficit-neutral bill and actually help reduce the federal debt after 10 years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/health/policy/17health.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

Kiss enough corporate butt and bank on a comfy old age.