The Senate Finance Committee will likely approve a $829 billion health care reform plan sometime today. Senators began making their final remarks and final questions at about 10:15 a.m. (you can watch the debate and vote live via CSPAN below). Eventually, votes are expected to fall along party lines -- 13 Democrats voting yes and 10 Republicans voting no.
There's a chance Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) might break from her party, like a maverick, and vote yes. But who knows.
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said they held 31 meetings with a bipartisan group with five other senators, including Snowe. He said the talks resulted in the following accomplishments:
- Reduces the deficit within 10 years
- Raise the share of Americans with insurance coverage to 94% from 83%
- Increase prevention and wellness
- Lower prescription drug costs for seniors
- No one can be denied insurance coverage or charged more because of a pre-existing health condition
A lot in the bill contains consensus on reforms that "just need to be done," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said. However, he found the following aspects of the bill questionable/disturbing:
- Biggest expansion of Medicaid since its creation
- An unprecedented mandate for health insurance coverage
- Increases the size of government
- Will cause premiums to go up
- Imposes new fees and taxes totaling about half a trillion dollars