Senate Democrats are increasingly frustrated by the secrecy and duration of Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) bipartisan talks on health care reform, with some saying it could undermine Democratic support for the bill.
Democrats both on and off the Finance Committee said the briefings they get about the six negotiators’ progress are too vague. Plus, they say, without a bill in hand, they cannot defend or sell the package to a wary media and public.
“At some point, [Baucus is] going to have to worry about getting Democratic votes,” said one Democratic Senator, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “If they think that we’ll take whatever it is that comes out because we want to get something passed, they’re wrong.”
Another Democratic Senator said the updates Democrats are getting from Baucus contain few specifics on the policy changes being explored by his bipartisan group, which also includes Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Mike Enzi (Wyo.).
“The report that we get is the same one we get week after week after week: ‘We’re close. We’re close. We’re close,’” said the Democratic Senator.
This isn’t the first time Baucus has been the subject of his colleagues’ ire. Many Democrats are still steaming over Baucus’ willingness to align with the Bush administration on controversial tax cuts and a sweeping Medicare prescription drug bill. However, he did gain back some credibility with fellow Democrats when he took a lead roll in killing Bush’s Social Security proposals.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who sits on Finance, similarly acknowledged that the briefings for committee members during the current health care talks have not been very detailed. However, she said she is not bothered by it, because she understands the need for some secrecy.
“It’s tough to move the ball down the field in [Finance Democrat] meetings,” she said. Baucus “is trying the best way he can to move the ball down the field.”
Lincoln added, “I’ve been weighing in on the things I’m most concerned about.”
Another Finance member, Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.), however, insisted he is satisfied with his communications with Baucus, saying: “I talk to Sen. Baucus every day. He’s gone out of his way to be consultative.”
Baucus, on his way into another closed-door session Wednesday evening, said he has had several conversations with Democratic Senators to inform them of the progress of the talks. Baucus acknowledged there has been some “concern” but said most of his conversations with Members have been positive, and he stressed he will brief his caucus in detail once an agreement has been reached.
“There will be an opportunity for Senators to weigh in — as they should,” Baucus told reporters. “I really haven’t heard grumbling; I’ve heard a little concern, asking questions — ‘Max, what about this, what about that, can we add this, can we add that?’ I’m sure there’s a little angst, because whenever you’re not in the room you’re going to wonder what’s going on. But I’ve done my best to reassure.”
A senior Democratic source close to the negotiations noted that communication between Baucus and his senior staff, and the rest of the Democratic Conference and their staff, occurs daily, both in person and via telephone.
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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