The Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Sen. Baucus (D-MT), is expected to release his highly anticipated health reform mark as early as Wednesday. It has also been reported that Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV) plans to introduce amendments containing end-of-life provisions that were originally expected to be part of the Baucus mark but were taken out over the summer after concerns.
During a briefing to reporters following a meeting of Finance Democrats on Monday, Sen. Baucus conveyed optimistically, that be believed that committee amendments would not unravel bipartisanship and that some Republicans join in – in adopting the bill - even if none sign on to the initial mark. This remark was no doubt in response to the major concerns that Republican Senators Enzi and Grassley had as reported today by the New York Times writing, “Two of the three Republicans in a small group trying to forge a bipartisan compromise on health care have requested numerous major changes in a proposal drafted by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, reducing the chances that he can win their support.”
It has also been reported that after the chairman's mark is released Wednesday (Sept. 16), after which the committee will meet in executive session to prepare the groundwork for amendments when markup begins next Tuesday (Sept. 22).
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