Obama,..Kennedy, ChappquidiCare (whatever) Going Down for the Count?

Hope for Health Bill Compromise Fades

WASHINGTON (Aug. 29) - Signaling a fading chance for compromise, a leading Republican negotiator on U.S. health care legislation on Saturday criticized Democratic legislative proposals as budget-busters that would reroute spending for the elderly and restrict medical choices.

The criticism from Sen. Michael Enzi echoed that of many opponents of the Democratic plans under consideration in the U.S. Congress. But Enzi's judgment was especially noteworthy because he is one of only three Republicans who have been willing to consider a bipartisan bill in the Senate.

Delivering the Republicans' weekly radio and Internet address, Enzi said any health care legislation must lower medical costs for Americans without increasing deficits and the national debt.

"The bills introduced by congressional Democrats fail to meet these standards," he said.

Enzi, together with Republican Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Olympia Snowe of Maine, has been holding periodic talks with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. But the chance of a bipartisan breakthrough has diminished this month in the face of an effective public mobilization by opponents of Democratic proposals.