WH calls Bacus bill positive, says it “should” win GOP support

The Obama White House doesn't want to play legislative favorites on health care, but it's clearly leaning toward the Senate Finance Committee bill as the principle vehicle to attract bipartisan support and pave that way to an eventual policy compromise.

"It may get a little Republican support," said a senior administration official deeply involved in health care strategy. "Considering the number of concessions in it, it should."

The White House is hopeful Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe will back the bill being introduced today by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. They are less optimistic about Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. Together, these three Republicans have negotiated for months with Baucus on his final bill.

The official said the White House sees Baucus' bill as the closest to the plan President Obama announced in his speech to a joint session of Congress and considers its unveiling a big step toward breaking the legislative logjam.

"There is a sense of momentum after the president's speech and this legislation represents what can keep it moving," the official said. "There is something in here that everybody likes and there is something in here everybody dislikes. The good news is the emptiest caucus in the Democratic Party right now is the 'no loaf' caucus. Everyone wants to accomplish something. Nobody wants no loaf at all."

The adviser said the White House knows some liberal Democrats will disapprove of the lack of a government financed public option in the Baucus bill and other centrist policy choices.

"This won't be the final vote on this legislation," the adviser said, saying opportunities amend Baucus’ bill will occur in committee and on the Senate floor. "At the end of the day, we have a legislative process. The Senate's always been a challenge."

Senate Democratic leaders hope to complete action on health reform by mid-October. A Democratic strategist said Senate disputes between the left and center will determine the fate of health care reform.

"This is where Obama's leadership will be tested," said a Democratic strategist who asked not to be named. "(The president) will he try to persuade via policy arguments or turn to some hard ball politics to get his former colleagues to fall in line. He will emerge with the respect of his former colleagues as a strong president or one they know is malleable."