Yesterday I posted an explanation as to why the Finance Committee and the Max Baucus Gang of Six have so much power in this healthcare reform process, and why the White House has to pay so much deference to it. The upshot is that Finance has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid and therefore is has to be involved.
However, there's a long-shot way to circumvent Baucus and go with the Senate HELP Committee bill. The Wonk Room:
Since the HELP committee doesn’t have jursidiction over Medicare, Medicaid, or financing, lawmakers would have to add the necessary provisions in conference or on the floor, in the form of amendments.
In other words, enormous sections of the bill -- very important sections covering Medicare and Medicaid would have to be inserted on the floor as amendments without any committee approval. This would make the bill remarkably difficult to pass because it so obviously back-doors normal Senate procedures and jurisdictions. And it relies upon Harry Reid having the nards to pull the trigger.
But there is a way. And with every day that goes by Max Baucus and the Gang of Six become exponentially more insufferable.