The battle over health care reform "is all but paralyzed" as everyone awaits the outcome of Senate Finance Committee negotiations. If a bipartisan deal is possible, it will come from the talks between six senators who have been meeting multiple times a day since mid-June.
New York Times: "Still, if the three Democrats and three Republicans can pull off a grand bargain, it will have to be more conservative than the measures proposed by the House or the left-leaning Senate health committee. And that could force Mr. Obama to choose between backing the bipartisan deal or rank-and-file Democrats who want a bill that more closely reflects their liberal ideals."
Indeed, the AP confirms the group is dropping elements of the more liberal House plan, noting "participants were on track to exclude a requirement
many congressional Democrats seek for businesses to offer coverage to
their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government
insurance option, despite President Barack Obama's support for such a
plan."
The big question today: Will liberals in the House and Senate attempt to block a plan without these provisions?