Senate Finance Bill Will Cost $829 Billion Over Decade

The final vote on the Senate Finance Committee bill could come as early as Friday, but several GOP members have asked that Elmendorf and Thomas Barthold, chief of staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, be present when the committee reconvenes. "Before the committee votes to report the legislation out of Committee, it is important that all members have a thorough understanding of the cost of the legislation and how individuals, families, and businesses will be affected," Grassley wrote in a statement earlier this week.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R ME), one of the Republicans on the committee who could support the bill, urged Baucus not to force a vote before next week and added she has remained noncommittal. "We have a lot to review," she said.

On the House side, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D NY) said that he intends to submit the House healthcare reform bill to CBO by Friday for review. Rangel met yesterday behind closed doors with Baucus.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he wants to combine the bill by next week with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill, and then present that bill to Senate floor later this month.