Health Care

House Republican's Health Care Reform Probe Could Backfire On GOP

Brian Beutler | March 24, 2011, 6:00AM

If House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) really wants to know what deals were struck between the White House and the health care industry to pass health care reform, he may end up giving health care reform some free advertising.

As part of his quest to publicize all of the dealmaking that characterized the health care reform process, Upton says he'll consider pressing industry leaders for details on their private negotiations with the Obama administration.

"It's something that's not off the table, in terms of what we may do," Upton said at a recent press conference with House leadership.

So far, Upton has directed all of his inquiries at the White House, to no avail. Changing course would give him easier access to the information he seeks (or claims to seek), but might put him behind the eight ball politically. That's because many of the stakeholders in question -- drug manufacturers, hospitals, and other interested parties -- either support the law, or entered a sort of non-aggression pact with the administration.

And if Upton drags those leaders -- many of whom lean Republican -- up to the Hill for a public hearing about their participation in the process, he may hear more about how they think it's a good law, than about how shady the whole process was.

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Topics: Billy Tauzin, Fred Upton, Health Care, Henry Waxman, Max Baucus, PhRMA, Public Option