Baucus, Obama talk health care at White House

WASHINGTON (AP)

Montana Sen. Max Baucus said a private lunch with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden should help as he leads efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system. Baucus, a veteran Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, had lunch with Obama and Biden at the White House Wednesday, along with Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican on the finance panel. Baucus said the four men had a wide-ranging discussion, but focused on health care. Baucus Called the meeting productive. He pledged to continue to work with Obama, Biden, Grassley and others to get a bill passed. Baucus has said he hopes to bring to the Senate floor this summer a bill that meets Obama's goal of overhauling the nation's health care system to cover 48 million uninsured Americans.