Senate committee chairmen Senators Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Max Baucus of Montana issued a joint statement saying they would "seek common ground on health reform legislation," despite reports that they disagreed on the shape of a new public health insurance plan that many Democrats want to create. The statement came a day after a report that the two Democrats disagreed over the details of a government-sponsored plan. The statement did not mention the proposal for such a plan, which would compete with private insurers.