Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the likely next Senate Finance Committee chairman, is flexing his political muscles by proposing a change to how Medicare treats and pays for care for chronically ill patients. Wyden is in line to take over chairmanship of the committee when Sen. Max Baucus is confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China.
The Washington Post: Wyden Bringing His Ambitious Agenda To A Powerful New Post
Sen. Ron Wyden is one of the Senate's most ambitious dreamers, the prolific author of grand bipartisan plans to improve the health care system and rewrite the tax code. He often wins fervent praise from reformers -- but rarely much political support. That may be about to change. Next month, Wyden (D-Ore.) is expected to take control of the storied Senate Finance Committee. Its current chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), has been nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to China. So Wednesday, when Wyden unveiled his latest bill, a standing-room-only crowd of lobbyists, aides and reporters packed the Capitol Hill hearing room, hoping to learn which of Wyden's many controversial ideas would rise to the top of his newly influential agenda (Montgomery, 1/15).
USA Today: Sen. Wyden Unveils Medicare Reform Bill
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who's likely to lead one of the Senate's most powerful committees soon, unveiled an ambitious bipartisan bill Wednesday that would overhaul the way older Americans receive care under Medicare and rein in the program's soaring costs. Wyden, in line to become the next chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the measure on Capitol Hill along with three co-sponsors -- Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Reps. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Erik Paulsen, R-Minn (Chebium, 1/15).
