Gang of Six: Difference between revisions

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The '''Gang of Six''' is group of six U.S. Senators, all members of the [[Senate Committee on Finance]], who are seen as the core group that might work out an agreement on [[health care reform]]. While they have been called "moderate", that is more in the sense that they have a demonstrated ability to work across party lines, rather than an evaluation of their ideology.
The '''Gang of Six''' is group of six U.S. Senators, all members of the [[Senate Committee on Finance]], who are seen as the core group that might work out an agreement on [[health care reform]]. While they have been called "moderate", that is more in the sense that they have a demonstrated ability to work across party lines, rather than an evaluation of their ideology.
*[[Max Baucus]], chairman
*[[Max Baucus]], chairman
Line 7: Line 8:
*[[Olympia Snowe]]
*[[Olympia Snowe]]


Several individuals have received substantial contributions from participants in health care, which has raised questions of the appearance of conflict of interest.
Of the Republicans, Snowe, who does not face reelection until 2012, may be the likeliest to vote with Republicans. <ref name=AP-Influence>{{citation
| title = THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health interests fund senators
| author = Alan Fram  | journal = Associated Press
| url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxRBOlclUhVsQ1jrOgqE-7B9C-cAD9AOFH4G3}}</ref> While Enzi is known for bipartisanship and spoke positively at the March [[White House Forum on Health]],  he has said he expects to extract Democratic concessions rather than compromise. He gave the weekly Republican radio response, to which Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said <blockquote>Certainly, I think the radio address over the weekend by Sen. Enzi, repeating many of the generic Republican talking points that Republicans are using that have bragged about being opposed to health care, are tremendously unfortunate, but in some ways illuminating...It appears that, at least in Sen. Enzi’s case, he doesn’t believe there’s a pathway to get bipartisan support...Sen. Enzi’s clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship and decided that it’s time to walk away from the table.<ref name=WSJ>{{citation
| date = 31 August 2009  | journal = Wall Street Journal
| title = Gibbs Tells Off Sen. Enzi Over Health Care Remarks
| url = http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/08/31/gibbs-tells-off-sen-enzi-over-health-care-remarks/
| author = Susan Davis}}</ref></blockquote>
==Draft plan==
On September 16, Baucus presented elements of the plan.<ref name=CNN>{{citation
| url = http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/59461022.html
| journal = CNN
| date = 16 September 2009
| title = Baucus Unveils 'Gang Of Six' Plan }}</ref>
It would cost $856 billion over 10 years and mandate insurance coverage for every American. The proposal has no public option, which President Obama has wanted, but includes  non-profit [[health care cooperative]]s.
 
It would bar dropping policyholders as long as premiums had been paid, add protections for [[pre-existing condition]]s, and set up tax credits to help purchase coverage.
==Criticism==
Several individuals have received substantial contributions from participants in health care, which has raised questions of the appearance of conflict of interest. Baucus, however, trails only Obama and McCain, [[John Kerry]] and [[Arlen Specter]] D-Pa., have received more health contributions than Baucus, $8.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively.<ref name=AP-Influence />
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
Line 14: Line 34:
! Rank in Congress
! Rank in Congress
|-
|-
| Kent Conrad
| Baucus
| $3.9 million
| 5
|-
| Grassley
| $2.7 million
| 14
|-
| Conrad
| $1.6 million
| $1.6 million
| 35
| 35
|-
|-
| Jeff Bingaman
| Bingaman
| row 2, cell 2
| $865,000
| row 2, cell 3
| 102
|-
| Enzi
| $844,000
| 104
|-
| Snowe
| $756,000
| 122
|}
|}
, D-N.D., has received  in health contributions since 1989, th among lawmakers.
==References==
 
{{reflist|2}}
_, D-N.M., has accumulated $865,000, ranking him 102nd.
 
_Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., has gotten $844,000, ranking him 104th.
 
<ref name=AP>{{citation
| THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health interests fund senators
| author = Alan Fram  | journal = Associated Press
| url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxRBOlclUhVsQ1jrOgqE-7B9C-cAD9AOFH4G3}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:51, 17 September 2009

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The Gang of Six is group of six U.S. Senators, all members of the Senate Committee on Finance, who are seen as the core group that might work out an agreement on health care reform. While they have been called "moderate", that is more in the sense that they have a demonstrated ability to work across party lines, rather than an evaluation of their ideology.

Of the Republicans, Snowe, who does not face reelection until 2012, may be the likeliest to vote with Republicans. [1] While Enzi is known for bipartisanship and spoke positively at the March White House Forum on Health, he has said he expects to extract Democratic concessions rather than compromise. He gave the weekly Republican radio response, to which Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said

Certainly, I think the radio address over the weekend by Sen. Enzi, repeating many of the generic Republican talking points that Republicans are using that have bragged about being opposed to health care, are tremendously unfortunate, but in some ways illuminating...It appears that, at least in Sen. Enzi’s case, he doesn’t believe there’s a pathway to get bipartisan support...Sen. Enzi’s clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship and decided that it’s time to walk away from the table.[2]

Draft plan

On September 16, Baucus presented elements of the plan.[3] It would cost $856 billion over 10 years and mandate insurance coverage for every American. The proposal has no public option, which President Obama has wanted, but includes non-profit health care cooperatives.

It would bar dropping policyholders as long as premiums had been paid, add protections for pre-existing conditions, and set up tax credits to help purchase coverage.

Criticism

Several individuals have received substantial contributions from participants in health care, which has raised questions of the appearance of conflict of interest. Baucus, however, trails only Obama and McCain, John Kerry and Arlen Specter D-Pa., have received more health contributions than Baucus, $8.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively.[1]

Senator Contributions Rank in Congress
Baucus $3.9 million 5
Grassley $2.7 million 14
Conrad $1.6 million 35
Bingaman $865,000 102
Enzi $844,000 104
Snowe $756,000 122

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alan Fram, "THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health interests fund senators", Associated Press
  2. ↑ Susan Davis (31 August 2009), "Gibbs Tells Off Sen. Enzi Over Health Care Remarks", Wall Street Journal
  3. ↑ "Baucus Unveils 'Gang Of Six' Plan", CNN, 16 September 2009
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