Public Option Scrapped
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, on Wednesday released his much-anticipated version of a health care reform plan.
The package, created without Republican support, was designed with the objective of meeting President Obama’s timetable for passage.
The legislation as reported by the Los Angeles Times, does not contain the controversial “public option,” an omission which is sure to anger liberals. The proposal does however, mandate that all Americans must have health insurance or face fines.
According to FOX News, the package was pegged at $856 billion over 10 years. It also largely follows the outline given by President Obama a week ago.
“We worked to build a balanced, common-sense package that ensures quality, affordable coverage and doesn’t add a dime to the deficit,” Baucus said. “Now we can finally pass legislation that will rein in healthcare costs and deliver quality, affordable care to the American people.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) retorted, “Americans don’t think a bigger role for government in healthcare would improve the system,” he said. “Yet despite this, every proposal we’ve seen would lead to a vast expansion of the government’s role in the healthcare system.”
