Yesterday, Senator Max Baucus announced his intent to implement the first round of modifications to his compromise health care legislation in order to
address concerns of affordability made by Senate Democrats, and Republican Senator Olympia Snowe. The move, which plans to reallocate $28 billion within the bill, aims to create larger subsidizes for low income individuals and lower the penalties for those who do not purchase health care coverage.

I was watching President Obama's health care speech last night with a friend of mine who's a former Republican. He had voted for Bush in the last two elections, but was disheartened with the direction in which his party was headed and came to support then-Senator Obama in the primary and general elections. Last night I looked over to him towards the end of Obama's 45 minute address to ask him what he thought. He smiled and said "This is why we elected him. Because when all the Democrats want to run for cover, he actually stands up and says it like it is.

As President Obama prepares to give his second speech to a joint session of Congress the question of whether or not health care reform will pass literally hangs in the balance. This is a fact that has not been lost on the White House and yesterday the President met with leaders from Congress to strategize a way to pass this bill by the end of the year. The first step in that strategy is obviously tonight's speech. This is Obama's last ditch effort to reclaim the debate and if the train can't get on the tracks tonight, it's unclear whether it ever will.