To start off, "Democrats are breathing a sigh of relief after a positive cost report on health care overhaul gave them a chance to rally around a Senate plan that significantly expands coverage while trimming the federal deficit". With phrases such as "Democrats are breathing a sigh of relief" and "gave them a chance", this sounds good.

"The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the latest version of the Senate bill would expand coverage to 94 percent of all eligible Americans at a 10-year cost of $829 billion". Most Important Point: 94% of everybody would either be covered or required to buy health insurance, which is an advantage, because this is NECESSARY. Forget the figure ($829 billion) for now.

"The budget umpires added that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by $81 billion (a huge amount of money) over a decade and could lead to reductions in federal red ink in the years beyond". Reducing the federal deficit, which has been ballooning AND "red ink" (i.e. beauracracy) is another advantage.

"But the plan still leaves about 25 million people uninsured,when fully phased in, in 2019". There is a disaster looming. This is A HUGE DISADVANTAGE/DRAWBACK caused in no small part by all the partisan bickering. Also, 2019 is well beyond Mr. Obama;s tenure. Obama will leave in 2016 if this legislation passes and everything else goes well, but again, right now, nothing can be guaranteed and we can be pretty sure that, if the health care doesn't become more effective real soon, the president will only be the president FOR ONE TERM (i.e. until 2012) AND THAT WOULD BE IT. Republicans (along with certain others) must be jumping for joy right now.

"Beginning in 2013, people would be required to get health insurance, either through an employer or a government program or buying it themselves". This is not soon enough. Many people with treatable serious ailments and who are without insurance may not last that long. Politically, this statement starts off with "Beginning in 2013". Well, if health care reform is not done before 2012, this could mean the end of the Obama presidency in 2012 and the president was crystal clear that he wants to reform the health care system WITHIN his term.

How are people reacting to all this? According to spokesman Reid Cherlin, "The analysis confirms that we can provide stability and security for all Americans with insurance and affordable OPTIONS for uninsured Americans - WITHOUT ADDING A DIME TO THE DEFICIT - and saving money over the long term". How can there possibly be "affordable options for uninsured Americans" IF THERE IS NO "PUBLIC OPTION"? Also, we must challenge "without adding a dim to the deficit" because this costs money.

As for political implications, "Conservative Democrats were upbeat. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, a spokesman for the fiscally conservative Blue Dog coalition, said he was encouraged that the Finance bill would cut the deficit and indicated that he would like to see the House bill move in the same direction". The deficit is A LONG-TERM PROBLEM. People's health and well-being MAY BE SHORT-TERM PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE FIXED, so why not fix them before they become something much more severe? Many premature fatalities arise from treatable medical conditions, so why not treat them?

"Republicans - with the exception of Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe - PANNED the Finance effort". These are Republicans and Republicans are ALWAYS COMPLAINING.

Specifically, according to Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, "A CELEBRATION OF THE DEFICIT effects masks who pays the bills". Republicans are creating a scene again. No one likes owing money, Sen. Grassley. "This package includes hundreds of millions of dollars IN NEW TAXES AND FEES". There's the old GOP argument that the Democrats will raise taxes again. "Most Americans with health insurance will see their premiums increase". Maybe, but there are many more WITHOUT GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE.

"Snowe, a member of the Finance Committee, told reporters (that) she needs more time to review the latest estimates". Right now, Snowe is the only Republican supporting this Democratic health care overhaul attempt.

Finally, according to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, the sponsor of this legislation, "This legislation, I believe, is a smart investment on our federal balance sheet. It's an even smarter investment for American families, businesses and our economy". However, there are some major disappointments including: people would not be required to get insurance until 2013 and this plan/proposal won't be fully implemented until 2019. Considering that the Democrats hold a 59-41 majority, they should not have let Republicans push them around so much.