Dem Senator Baucus hopeful on bipartisan health bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus said on Thursday he is hopeful the panel can reach bipartisan agreement on a healthcare overhaul, and said Republicans as well as Democrats are working toward that goal.

He spoke to reporters after meeting with leading members of his committee including Senator Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the panel.

Committee negotiations were expected to continue through Thursday as the lawmakers seek to find a way to pay for the $1 trillion 10-year cost of the overhaul with revenues both parties can accept.

"All participants clearly want to reach an agreement," Baucus said. They are under pressure from President Barack Obama to complete work in the Senate before August.

(Reporting by Donna Smith, Editing by Jackie Frank)