AP Interview: Baucus didn’t know for sure Snowe was ‘yes’ on health bill until she cast vote

AP Interview: Baucus unsure how Snowe would vote

WASHINGTON — Sen. Max Baucus says he didn’t know for sure that Republican Senator Olympia Snowe would vote in favor of his health care overhaul bill until she actually did so.

The Montana Democrat said he had a strong sense that Snowe wanted to support the legislation but that she hadn’t told him what she’d do.

He made his comments in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press shortly after his Senate Finance Committee passed his sweeping health care bill. Snowe was the only Republican to vote “yes.” The other four congressional committees that have passed health care bills have done so without a single GOP vote.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Snowe told him this morning she’d be bucking her party to support Baucus’ bill.