Politics

Dems Reach Out (Again) to Snowe on Health Care

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

We know generally that the Democrats are working behind the scenes to try to find a way to pass health care reform. But what, in particular have they been doing? One thing, apparently, is talking to Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME], the only Republican in the Senate who has expressed any interest in voting for the bill:

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said Friday that she has been in conversation with Democrats and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus about a way forward on health care reform.

“I have talked with several of my Democratic colleagues, including the chairman of the Finance Committee, just sorting through these issues, and the process, and what will unfold,” Snowe told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC Friday afternoon. “Hopefully, [Democrats] will take measure of what needs to happen now, build some support, those things can happen so that it’s not [so] breathtakingly expansive that [it] creates consternation by the American people at a time will can ill-afford intrinsic costs.” […]

“There are things in the bill that could be supported regarding small business that I have worked with Sen. Durbin, Sen. Lincoln, and the small business community… some tax incentives, allowing plans to be purchased across state lines?that would all be invaluable to small business who are undeniably facing a crisis with health care cost.”

Full post as published by Open Congress on January 29, 2010 (boomark / email).