As first reported by Politico, Republican and Democratic Senate leaders are close to reaching a deal that would stave off impending cuts in Medicare reimbursements. To pay for the so-called “doc fix” – a perpetually vexing circumstance in which Medicare reimbursements would fall more than 20% without repeated congressional action – lawmakers may use $19.2 [...]
Of all the controversial pieces of the Affordable Care Act, the one that seems ripest for rollback is a new requirement that businesses file tax forms on every purchase over $600. Yet, despite calls for its demise from both sides of the aisle and seemingly every business group in America, this provision lives on, which [...]
We are a nation of tax cheats. In 2001, the difference between what Americans and businesses owed in taxes and what they actually paid voluntarily was $345 billion. The enormous amount, known as the “tax gap” has been vexing politicians and IRS bureaucrats ever since it was quantified in 2005. Of course, one way to [...]
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and the top Republican on the committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, unveiled a long-anticipated bipartisan jobs bill this morning but clearly they didn’t run their plan past the leadership — or at least didn’t gain leadership support before they proceeded. This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced his [...]
Tonight the Senate began voting on amendments to the health care bill for the first time in days. Near the top of the agenda: an amendment from Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan that would have allowed U.S. pharmacies and drug wholesalers to “reimport” drugs from foreign countries. It was was voted down 51-48. (Amendments need 60 [...]
Ruth Marcus has a good suggestion here.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus found himself the center of a scrum of reporters Saturday as the Senate worked through the weekend on health care reform, though not for the usual reasons. The topics did not include the public option, abortion, health care affordability or his hearings on global warming legislation but, rather, his [...]
Chairman Max Baucus just warned the committee that he is prepared to work all night. I would take this more seriously if it hadn’t been for the fact that he made this announcement to four Democrats, five Republicans … and 10 empty chairs. UPDATE: Commenter Rustyreturns asks: Who are the “missing” Senators, Karen?
For all that Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus moved frustratingly slowly the last five months – especially to those of us standing in the hall in front of his office waiting for an agreement — he’s moving lightning quick to the mark up. The bill that he will be moving through his committee tomorrow will [...]
It is unprintable, and unvarnished.
