The debate on health care reform got a bit animated on Thursday in the Senate Finance Committee, as Senators duked it out again over Democratic plans that Republicans charge will cut Medicare spending by up to $500 billion.

Democrats clearly were growing more and more aggravated with that GOP line of attack, and seemed to be more ready to tangle with Republicans on Thursday.

Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus several times jabbed at Republicans over defending the "status quo," arguing that the GOP has no other plan for health reform, other than opposing what Democrats have offered.

That pushed Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) over the edge, as he angrily denounced Baucus' charge that Republicans were dragging their feet and not offering any positive amendments.

"We don't believe in a massive government takeover!" Kyl thundered.

As for offering a Republican substitute plan, so far GOP Senators have not gone that route, even though members of their party have introduced a number of health care reform bills filled with their own ideas.

It will be interesting to see if that changes whenever this issue gets to the floor of the House and Senate, because Republicans certainly have plans out there if they want to highlight them.

For the most part, this first week of work in the Senate Finance Committee has stayed at the margins, other than the skirmishing over changes in Medicare and how that will affect seniors.

Republican on Thursday again denounced the Democratic plans to do away with the Medicare Advantage program, saying it will result in fewer benefits for many seniors in rural areas - a major "cut" in GOP minds.

On the Democratic side, this move is described as real "savings" and reform of the current system, which backers say is wasteful, especially when it comes to the Medicare Advantage program.

Again I will note that the Republicans have had the Democrats a bit on the defensive with an attack line that usually Democrats have employed, the old "cuts" versus "savings" line.

And I'm sure we'll hear more of that in coming days.

Thursday night, the committee worked late again.  Friday, we may have our first showdown on the issue of the public insurance option, as two Democrats who back that idea say they will offer amendments on it. 

We'll see if that happens, as most people expect this committee debate to spill into next week.