Reports like this could become a big problem for the Baucus plan:
Under the Baucus plan, described in a "framework" he released last week, as many as 4 million of the 46 million people who are currently uninsured would be required to buy coverage on their own, without government help, by some estimates. Millions more would qualify for federal tax credits, but could still end up paying as much as 13 percent of their income for insurance premiums -- far more than most Americans now pay for coverage.
People further down the income scale would receive much bigger tax credits, effectively limiting their premiums at 3 percent of their earnings. But experts on affordability say even those families could find it difficult to meet the new mandate without straining their wallets.
Sounds like Max Baucus has got himself a plan desperately in need of more generous subsidies and a public option. Unfortunately, he's not going to go there, because Majority Leader Snowe doesn't think it's a good idea.
But don't worry, good ol' Maxie, he's got Leader Snowe to support a fig leaf:
The plan would not, as liberals have demanded, create a government-run insurance option to compete with private firms, but would finance the creation of state or regional cooperatives run by consumers -- a concession aimed at winning over Republican lawmakers.
At this point, there's no reason to believe Max Baucus is capable of bringing a good bill across the finish line. Unfortunately, DC Democrats still seem happy to let him try. It's long past time that they realize that not only is Baucus dragging this out, he's dragging the whole thing down.