Wyden bringing his ambitious agenda to a powerful new post

Washington Post:

Sen. Ron Wyden is one of the Senate’s most ambitious dreamers, the prolific author of grand bipartisan plans to improve the health-care system and rewrite the tax code. He often wins fervent praise from reformers — but rarely much political support.

That may be about to change. Next month, Wyden (D-Ore.) is expected to take control of the storied Senate Finance Committee. Its current chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), has been nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.

So Wednesday, when Wyden unveiled his latest bill, a standing-room-only crowd of lobbyists, aides and reporters packed the Capitol Hill hearing room, hoping to learn which of Wyden’s many controversial ideas would rise to the top of his newly influential agenda.

Wyden was pleased but coy.

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