After Health Care Meeting, Blue Dogs Agree To Hold More Meetings
After meeting to discuss an unspecified health care compromise offered by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the Blue Dogs have agreed that...they need to have more meetings.
"The bottom line of the Blue Dogs has not been met yet," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy inauspiciously (D-ND) according to The Hill.
But the fate of health care reform in the House is now back in the hands of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee who've been holding things up all along--and Pomeroy isn't one of them. Waxman wants to continue marking up his health care reform bill tomorrow--but these seven conservative Democrats will have to decide one way or another whether they're in or out before that can happen.
Advertisement
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Blue Dogs should be held responsible if no meaningful reform occurs.
July 28, 2009 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reading Hendrik Hertzberg's blog last night, I learned that the Blue Dogs were formed in 1995. In other words, they formed specifically to thwart the initiatives of a popularly elected president from their own party. Internal contradictions of their mere existence aside, is there any analogous "Fifth column" type movement on the Republican side of the aisle?
If you don't support the policies of the party whose platform you were elected on, whay are you calling yourself a Democrat? Have some balls, and leave the party. Run on your own platform, or join the Republicans, but you shouldn't be allowed to run with a "D" after your name.
July 28, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Worse, they were formed by Rahm Emmanuel. He did this and basically told them they would not be challenged on anything. Maxine Waters told it like it is on MSNBC earlier today
July 28, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
For purposes of accuracy, the Blue Dogs were not formed by Emmanuel. The valid knock on him vis a vis Blue Gods is that he added to their ranks by enlisting very conservative Democrats to run in conservative or swing districts, thus enlarging the BD caucus.
July 29, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What happened to taking it straight to the floor?
July 28, 2009 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
A pay for outcome / value payment system, key to the deficit-neutral, might be capable of bringing all groups together.
Supporters of the agreement say it could save the Medicare System more than $100 billion a year and 'improve' care, that means more than $1trillian over a decade, and virtually needs no other resources including tax on the wealthiest. (Please visit http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=820455&catid=391 for detailed infos).
As much as 30 percent of all health-care spending in the U.S. -some $700 billion a year- may be wasted on tests and treatments that do not improve the health of the recipients,” Thus the remaining $239 billions over a decade do not matter.
Dr. Armadio at Mayo clinic says, "If we got rid of that stuff, we save a third of all that we spend and that is 2.5 trillion dollars on health care. A third of that and that is 700 billion dollars a year. That covers a lot of uninsured people."
1. There is no need for infighting and class conflict.
2. It can satisfy revenue-neutral raised by the Republicans.
3. It is able to resolve the regional disparity.
4. It may bring the private insurers to competition, innovation.
5. The focus on 'outcome' over volume can make the practitioners more accurate and creative based on IT SYSTEM and evidence, while eliminating the additional, unnecessary care that is increasing patients' pains, frustrations, and possible side-effects.
6. It undoubtedly allows for massive medical job creation.
7. The desperate people will get back American dream.
THANK YOU !
July 28, 2009 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
These dogs won't hunt! DAMN them and their delays! Waxman needs to revert to the hardline approach he was taking last week.
July 28, 2009 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck the Blue Dogs and take it to the floor. We have your backs and hopefully we get get these bastards out in 2010!
July 28, 2009 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The threat to take it to the floor is what dragged them back into discussions. I wouldn't worry about the Dogs at the moment. The Tri-Com bill would pass the House.
The bigger issue is Senate Finance and Baucus's Folly to draw in 3-5 GOP'ers by gutting Healthcare and risking losing 10-20 progressive Senators.
John
July 28, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DELAY is the problem.
These idiots have no intention of changing their vote either way. Either you are for health care or against it. So why drag this out?
Sneaky, scheming bastards.
July 28, 2009 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is incumbent for the Dem's to put a face on these "Blue Dogs" I mean I can think of Nelson, perhaps Baucus, I am sure I can search for the names but that is my point. If they are what is holding back reform then make sure that every single American knows exactly who is holding the cards. Also it would be helpful if the Dem majority simply asked that the "blue dogs" make some progress. When progress is made, let the people know about. If what they call progress is really not moving us closer to health-care reform then let us know about it. All I am reading about is delays, some tactics (from roll-call but that is a sub req), and how the CBO is scoring these proposals. I mean hell I know more about the Lewin group study than these guys. Who are the blue dogs and what do they really stand for? Why do they want to slow down the process now, it is not like health-care reform is a new issue, it has been an issues since before Truman? If they were incumbent Sen then they have probably been down this road before, what are their past positions?
July 28, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
baucus $2.8 Mil, conrad $2.1 Mil, demint $1.3 Mil, reid $1.5 Mil fr MEDICAL INDUSTR-IAL COMPLEX
Follow the Money: Link
Call Congress and demand, Single-Payer Health Care for All Now!
Sign the Single-Payer Petition: Link
SEMPER FI!
July 28, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
They decided this at a prior meeting.
July 28, 2009 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink