Controversial Effort

" Despite concern from most Republicans and some Democrats the Senate today pushed ahead on what we're supposed to be. The easy parts of the plan to overhaul health care in this country. But many quickly found out that almost everything about revamping the system is contentious. And tonight there are real questions about where the initiative stands now. Chief political correspondent Carl Cameron has the story."

" There is already trouble. Do you come to order. Two days into senate hearings on a partial health care reform plan that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would cost a trillion dollars over ten years but would still leave 37 million people uninsured. And lawmakers have not tackled the most costly and controversial issues the so called public option. Meeting taxpayer funded government insurance and the so called pay or play plan which would fine businesses and individuals for non participation. Republicans think Democrats are on defects they obviously don't have their policies together enough to move forward I think -- only reasonable thing to do. Just to go back to the drawing board. Let's go back to the beginning Democrats came to a similar conclusion. After a preliminary peek at additional Congressional Budget Office cost estimates for the controversial pay or play and government health insurance components. The analysis quickly -- Democrats back behind closed doors to rework things we can't have bill that cost too much and doesn't affect the number of people you want opposition to government run health insurance is so pronounced former senate majority leader Tom Daschle this week worried that it threatens the whole bill earned the ongoing health reform debate is beginning to show signs of fracture. On the public plan issue before income tax problems derailed him Daschle was the president's original pick to run health care reform. The woman who got the job health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen severely -- deflected questions about reform delays all week. As did the White House today."

" I don't think it's a surprise -- this. It's going to take some time to do. It's an issue that we've been discussing for forty years."

" Another problem conflicts -- Montana senator Max Baucus chairman of the Senate Finance Committee working on a similar competing bill. The Congressional Budget Office puts its price tag at one point six trillion dollars which -- pockets back to the drawing board to. Democrats admit -- own nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is testing their patients."

" It's always been a source of yet -- they frustration for many of us in the congress that the CBO. Will always give you. The worst case scenario. On one initiative. And never at best case."

" It's usually not a very good sign when elected partisan politicians. Begin pointing fingers of blame at their -- nonpartisan staffers. Hoping to show some sort of progress house Democrats say they'll unveil some of their health care reform ideas tomorrow but don't expect any specifics. Just about nobody on capitol hills and close to getting anywhere near those --"

" with the trillions of dollars being thrown around here in Washington from banking to the auto industry -- the health care. -- the president's pledge to reduce the influence of lobbyists holding him it's almost a -- I mean we're not very far for."

" From the hearing -- right here as a steady stream of lobbyists going in and out with all of the stimulus money with the supplemental money with the various different budget activities and the trillions of dollars that are being spent. Lobbyists see Washington DC is a great opportunity for economic stimulus for themselves there is tremendous amount of business going on lobbyists everywhere turning away business there's so much of that. And there even able to make some political donations despite the administration's desire to keep it away from them. There is no doubt lobbying is flourishing throughout this Carl Cameron lot on Capitol Hill."