Cantwell Joins Rockefeller. Can Baucus Bill Clear Committee?

Senate Finance Committee member Maria Cantwell said she won't vote for a bill without a public option, such as the Baucus bill. She said to McClatchy Newspapers, "I wouldn't vote for a bill that doesn't have Medicare reform and the public option. What would I tell the people in Washington state?"

After Sen. Jay Rockefeller, that makes two Democratic members on the Senate Finance Committee who have pledged to vote against the Baucus bill as drafted.

And if Baucus cannot get a Republican vote, and Cantwell and Rockefeller stand firm, that leaves him one vote short of the 12 needed for a Senate Finance Committee majority.

Now, GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe, along with a few other right-leaning Democrats, gave some positive sentiment to the Baucus bill today, though still short of actual support. It's certainly plausible he could eventually get her vote.

But that leaves Baucus little room for error.

If one more Democratic senator on the Finance Committee gives an unequivocal no to any bill without a public option, Baucus and his ally Sen. Kent Conrad will have to eat their words about what is needed to get a bill passed.

The other Democrats on the Finance Committee are: Jeff Bingaman (NM), John Kerry (MA), Blanche LIncoln (AR), Ron Wyden (OR), Charles Schumer (NY), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Bill Nelson (FL), Robert Menendez (NJ) and Thomas Carper (DE).

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