General Electric Co. and groups representing U.S. retailers and other companies called Sen. Max Baucus’ health plan superior to previous congressional proposals, while taxes and fees in the measure drew fire.
GE, the world’s largest maker of medical imaging equipment, considers changes in the Baucus bill “productive,” spokesman Peter O’Toole said. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the bill “the best effort to date.”
Baucus, a Montana Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has proposed an $856 billion plan that would require almost all Americans to have insurance or pay a penalty. It drops two provisions generally opposed by business: a mandate that all employers offer health coverage and the so-called public option, a government-run health program that would compete with private insurers.
