Just released by the New York Times. Click on the below link for the full story.
The Senate Panel Rejects a Public Option in the Health Plan
WASHINGTON — After a half-day of animated debate, the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday rejected efforts by liberal Democrats to add a government-run health insurance plan to major health care legislation, dealing the first official setback to an idea that many Democrats, including President Obama, say they support.
All of the other versions of the health care legislation advancing in Congress — a bill approved by the Senate health committee and a trio of bills in the House — include some version of the government-run plan, or public option.
But the Finance Committee chairman, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, long ago removed it from his proposal because of stiff opposition from Republicans who call the public plan a step toward “socialized medicine.”
The committee on Tuesday afternoon voted, 15 to 8, to reject an amendment proposed by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, to add a public option called the Community Choice Health Plan, an outcome that underscored the lack of support for a government plan among many Democrats.
Crude Slides on Oil Surplus Fears
NEW YORK – Crude-oil futures fell Tuesday with the approach of weekly oil and fuel inventory data that are expected to show extra supplies continuing to build up.
Light, sweet crude for November delivery recently traded 81 cents, or 1.2%, lower at $66.03 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded 69 cents, or 1.1%, lower at $64.85 a barrel.
Dollar Advances to Two-Week High on Russia’s Treasury Holdings
Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) — The dollar rose to a two-week high versus the euro as Russia said it will maintain the share of U.S. Treasuries in its international currency reserves, reducing concern central banks will diversify away from the greenback.
Sterling gained the most versus the euro since June as a report showed the economy shrank less than previously estimated and an index of U.K. retail sales rose to the highest level in five months. The yen slid against the dollar after Japan’s finance minister said the government may take action in markets to curb gains that are hurting exports.
Delinquencies Rise Further In Freddie’s Shrinking Portfolio
Fannie Mae (FNM) said Tuesday that delinquencies in its mortgage portfolio continued to rise, putting further pressure on the mortgage financier.
It and smaller sibling Freddie Mac (FRE) were put into conservatorship a year ago by the federal government amid fears of mounting losses.
Fannie said July serious delinquencies, or those at least 90 days behind, rose to 4.17% from 3.94% in June and 1.45% a year earlier. Fannie’s delinquencies have been worse than Freddie’s.
FDIC meets again to tackle funding needs
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) – Federal bank regulators on Tuesday will again tackle the thorny issue of how to fund ongoing responsibility to insured depositors at a backlog of failing banks.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp will consider several options at its meeting in an attempt to figure out how to raise enough money to keep depositors to failed institutions whole.
