Seven cross aisle for health care 'coalition'

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By Jennifer Haberkorn

Seven Senate Finance Committee members from both sides of the aisle have emerged as the key negotiators on a health care reform plan as President Obama's August deadline quickly approaches.

Dubbed "the coalition of the willing" by committee Chairman Max Baucus, Montana Democrat, the group engaged in nearly daily meetings before Congress left for its Fourth of July break. Its members are expected to be the key players in working out a bipartisan bill when they return to Washington.

Most of the three Democrats and four Republicans in the "Group of Seven" have a history of working on bipartisan deals and a long interest in health care issues. They are Mr. Baucus; ranking Republican Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, as well as Sens. Kent Conrad, North Dakota Democrat; Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat; Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican; Michael B. Enzi, Wyoming Republican; and Olympia J. Snowe, Maine Republican.

Republicans have complained that Democrats are working solo on the House health care bill, as well as on a plan in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, leaving the Finance bill as the only one likely to gather broad bipartisan support.

Under pressure from the White House to pass a bipartisan bill, Mr. Baucus solidified the group in the past few weeks. He and Mr. Grassley have a long history of bipartisanship, trading the chairman post since 2001.

Mr. Conrad has taken a central role in negotiations as his co-op compromise gained attention; Ms. Snowe is a favored target of Democrats looking for bipartisan support.

Mr. Enzi, frustrated by partisanship in the Senate health committee, on which he is the ranking member, has been encouraged by the Finance committee talks. He and Mr. Hatch serve on both committees.

"We have spent hours upon hours [in the Finance Committee] receiving input and options from both sides on how to reform our nations health care system," Mr. Enzi said in prepared floor remarks. "This stands in great contrast to the partisan process that has unfortunately unfolded in the [health committee]."

He and other Republicans have praised Mr. Baucus' approach.

Health care reform is complex, and a number of issues remain unresolved, including whether a public plan would be included and what it would look like; whether there would be mandates on employers to provide coverage or on individuals to carry coverage; whether there would be subsidies or exceptions to help the poor and small businesses; and how to pay for it - by taxing employer benefits or high-income brackets, or through other taxes.