Here's the reality of trying to negotiate with Republicans:
The September 15th deadline for a bipartisan healthcare bill isn't likely to be honored, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) predicted Tuesday.
Kyl attempted to call a bluff by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who said last week that if he hadn't reached a consensus with Republicans by mid-September, he would force a bill through without Republican support.
"He's set several other deadlines too, and he hasn't been able to meet them," Kyl said. "And I worry a little bit that by setting that deadline he could be setting himself up for not the best situation — let's put it that way."
How's that for some concern trolling? Of course he's not going to meet his deadline because Chuck Grassley takes his marching orders from Mitch McConnell and his marching orders are to kill reform. So why this bipartisan kabuki has to continue now that everybody knows that it's kabuki is beyond me.