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Rockefeller told reporters he was unhappy with the lack of a government-run "public" insurance option in the bill, which is scheduled to be made public on Wednesday, and had problems with some of its changes in children's health insurance and Medicaid, or healthcare for the poor.
"There is no way in its present form that I will vote for it," he told reporters.
But Rockefeller reiterated his previously stated concerns that Baucus's bill does too little to ensure that health insurance would be more affordable for middle-class families and that the measure does not adequately strengthen Medicaid and would transition too many kids from the Children's Health Insurance Program to private insurance.
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Rockefeller commented he will not vote for the Baucus bill during the committee markup that will begin next Tuesday unless the measure is changed in "vast amounts," he said.
Rockefeller may well get his wish. Baucus expects Finance Committee members to offer numerous amendments during the markup. After meeting with Baucus on Tuesday evening, several committee Democrats identified misgivings similar to Rockefeller's and made clear they expect the bill to undergo significant changes during the markup.
Rockfeller said he'll sponsor an amendment in committee to add a public option to the bill, and will have other amendments as well.
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