Democrat criticizes Obama opposition to taxing health benefits

From Ted Barrett and Deirdre Walsh
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama's opposition to taxing
employer-provided health benefits has slowed progress on passing a health care reform bill, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee complained Thursday.

"Basically, the president is not helping us," said Sen. Max Baucus,
D-Montana, emerging from closed-door talks on the bill.

Later, Baucus and top committee members from both parties ended their private talks without an agreement as hoped. Baucus said the earliest an agreement could come would be next week.

Baucus' criticism came on the same day the head of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said the health reform bills moving through Congress won't reduce long-term health care costs - in part because the bills don't include taxes on health benefits.