Reactions from Sens. Mitch McConnell & Joe Lieberman on the Baucus Bill!

McConnell Statement on Finance Committee Proposal from the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

‘The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Tuesday regarding the Finance Committee vote on partisan health care reform:

“Sen. Snowe called me this morning to let me know that while she continues to have serious, substantive policy reservations with this proposal, she wanted to keep the process moving. I share her concerns about the direction of this bill once it leaves the committee, and her call for transparency before we vote to proceed to any bill on the floor.

"The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate. But what we do know is that the bill written behind closed doors here in the Capitol will be another 1,000-page, trillion-dollar Washington takeover. We know it will slash a half-trillion dollars from seniors’ Medicare, add new taxes and raise premiums. That’s not reform.”

Lieberman opposes Baucus health bill

By Michael O'Brien - 10/13/09 11:21 AM ET

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday he will not support the healthcare bill set for a vote today in the Senate Finance Committee.

Though Lieberman is not a member of the 23-member committee that is set to approve the preliminary legislation crafted by Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the Connecticut independent is one of a handful of key Senate centrists who are shaping the fate of health reform this year.

"No, not the way it is now," Lieberman said during an appearance on "Imus in the Morning" on the Fox Business Network this morning when asked if he could support the Baucus bill.

Lieberman echoed concerns that the Finance committee bill would hike taxes on insurance companies, which would then be passed along to consumers. "I'm afraid that in the end the Baucus bill is actually going to raise the price of insurance for most of the people in the country," Lieberman said.

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