Reply #4: I can understand Baucus' anger

[karynnj]

In addition to the fact that this entity will complete control over what is in a bill, Baucus as Chair of Finance is seeing HIS "doamain" usurped. What I notice here is that NONE of the Senators who chair the major committee are here - except Conrad and Fienstein. (and Bingaman, if you count the energy committee.) That list is dominated by junior and somewhat senior, mostly conservative Democrats - except for the uber populist, Webb. :)

One question I have is who would be on that committee? If it is Senators and Congressmen, why not have the Finance and appropriate House committee (Ways and Means?) do this? If it is people outside the Senate, and the Executive branch has any part of defining it - it is the Unitary President on steroids.

I hope Kerry was a no on this.