Report: House Reaches Deal On Health Care, But No Vote Until September
CNN just broke some important news. House leaders and Blue Dog Democrats have reached an agreement--the terms of which remain mostly unclear--that will allow the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass health care legislation by weeks end. As part of the arrangement, though leaders have agreed to postpone a vote on the final legislation until after August recess comes to an end.
In the meantime, leaders will stitch together a final package, stitching together the portions of the bill that have been amended by the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor Committees.
The only figure that's been reported thus far is that Blue Dogs have lowered the cost of the legislation by about $100 billion. But we'll get you more details the moment they're available.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
OK. At least it's out of the hands of those gross southern redneck Blue Dogs.
Unlike Baucus, I trust Waxman not to give away the store and there aren't enough Dan Boren-type Blue Dogs to block the bill in the full house.
I thought for sure that my newly elected NC congressman, Larry Kissell, would join the blue dog. Thank God he hasn't!
July 29, 2009 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I also trust Nancy Pelosi to know how to count votes i.e. that she won't gain any GOP votes even with a complete "bipartisan" turd of a bill, but she WILL lose the progressive votes without which nothing can pass.
July 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does that mean more cost controls or a weaker bill?
July 29, 2009 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just pass the damn thing. The final bill will be written in reconciliation anyway.
July 29, 2009 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah but the stronger the House bill is the better the final bill will be.
July 29, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right on. If this deal provides some cost-cutting measures while still expanding coverage, great. As long as there's strong legislation with a public option and cost controls on the table before the break, that will strengthen reformers' hands going into the break, where OFA and other groups will really have to amp up the pressure to counter the GOP's astroturfers. Obama just said he expects a vote on final legislation by the end of September through the middle of October. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens faster as a result of this breakthrough.
July 29, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not gonna predict it'll get done faster but this does sound like good news. I was out at 6am this morning at the Hinsdale IL train station handing out flyers with the toll free capitol switchboard number asking people to call our congresswoman and demand she support a strong healthcare reform bill. Did pretty well considering it's her hometown and as Republican as Hoover.
July 29, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK - now what up with Mr. Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee???
July 29, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's up with Baucus?
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33420
July 29, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent!
The New Republic has joined the Blumenthal/Silver crusade
More than part...like a giant wonkish fog of confusion...hopefully that will break and the recess can return to broad principles ie why the ordinary American wants reform
July 29, 2009 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would help if during August Obama started sounding a lot less wonkish and a lot more give-em-hell in debunking conservative lies.
July 29, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Durbin just said Obama's going to have to step it up during August, and I don't think he has a choice, really. OFA looks like it's just warming up, and if these town halls are any evidence, Obama is getting bolder and more straightforward.
July 29, 2009 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink