Shepherding a bill with 564 amendments

New York Times, September 21, 2009

After months of closed-door negotiations with a handful of senators on the Finance Committee, the full panel now gets to put its imprint on what could be landmark legislation to overhaul the health system. Senators have offered 564 amendments and the Republican proposals generally reveal seemingly irreconcilable differences. While they would gut the bill, one Republican, Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, wants important changes, but appears ready to get behind it, provided Baucus can keep his fellow Democrats in line.