Senate Finance Committee Weighs Minimum Benefits Under Health Reform; Public Option Amendment Expected

At Friday’s Senate Finance Committee markup of its health reform, the committee voted 14-9 to reject an amendment by Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) that would have eliminated a proposal in the bill to allow the federal government to determine a minimum set of health benefits that insurers must provide. Kyl defended his amendment, saying that such regulations would raise the cost of insurance. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.