Making Waves On and Off the Hill: The Policy & Practice Podcast

From hearings and press conferences in Washington, DC:
The Democratic-controlled Senate Finance Committee finally passed a health reform bill with a little help from the other side of the aisle: a Yes vote from Maine Republican Olympia Snowe. Meanwhile, health insurers and medical device makers sound alarm bells about their concerns, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) [...]

Nearing the Finish Line?: The Policy & Practice Podcast

From hearings and press conferences in Washington, D.C.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on its health reform bill this week. Once out of the committee, there will be more merging, amending, and negotiating. And it’s anyone’s guess what will make it into a final package. In this week’s Policy & Practice Podcast, our [...]

A Time to Amend… the Policy & Practice Podcast

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

From Washington, D.C.:

After a long summer of waiting, journalists, policy wonks, and the public can finally start poring over the details of the Senate Finance Committee’s version of health reform legislation. But the work is really just beginning for the committee’s chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D.-Mont.), who this week will have to [...]

Maneuvering Begins Anew: the Policy & Practice Podcast

From Washington, DC:
As Congress gets back to work after the August recess, President Obama urges Congress and the nation to get behind health reform, the Senate Finance Committee releases its draft version of a health reform bill,  and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee — another key player in health care politics — [...]

A Farewell to Ted: The Policy & Practice Podcast

From phone interviews and teleconferences.
A touch of somberness was added to the normally very quiet final week of August in Washington, as the nation and the nation’s capital absorbed the news that Ted Kennedy, the second-longest serving Senator, had died after a year-long battle with brain cancer.  The Democratic and fiercely liberal champion of civil [...]

The War at Home: The Policy & Practice Podcast

From press briefings and goings-on around Washington, D.C.
Lawmakers returned to their districts last week for their month-long break and health reform was pretty much at the top of the agenda for meetings with constituents.  Right away, it was clear that this was not going to be an ordinary summer recess, however.  Many representatives and Senators [...]