GOP finance negotiators cast doubts on bipartisan health bill

The Associated Press: "A leading GOP negotiator on health care struck a further blow to fading chances of a bipartisan compromise by saying Democratic proposals would restrict medical choices and make the country's 'finances sicker without saving you money.' ... In the Republicans' weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday, [Sen. Mike] Enzi, D-Wyo., said any health care legislation must lower medical costs for Americans without increasing deficits and the national debt. 'The bills introduced by congressional Democrats fail to meet these standards,' he said."

"Enzi, together with Republican Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Olympia Snowe of Maine, has held talks with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. But the chance of a bipartisan breakthrough has diminished in the face of an effective public mobilization by opponents of Democratic proposals. ... He called for more competition among health insurers, for the ability of small businesses to band together across state lines to negotiate for lower-cost insurance plans, for tax breaks to help people buy insurance and for reducing malpractice lawsuits" (Kuhnhenn, 8/29).

NPR outlines the concerns of various members of the "key group of senators known as the Gang of Six. Three Democrats and three Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee have continued to work on a compromise health care bill through Congress' summer recess."

One example is Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who "tells NPR that controlling costs is her primary focus: 'What we have to do is develop a plan that's going to be available to people on an affordable basis ... containing costs, both for the American consumer and the American taxpayer'" (8/28).

Related KHN story:  Grassley: No Longer Sure That Bipartisan Deal Possible In September