MA-SEN

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 24, 2009, 9:01AM

Patrick To Announce Senate Pick, Kirk The Favorite
Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) will announce today his appointment for interim Senator, at an 11 a.m. press conference. The widespread expectation is that Kennedy family friend Paul Kirk will be appointed to Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, to serve as a caretaker until the January special election.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will chair a 9:15 a.m. ET meeting of the U.N. Security Council. At 12 p.m. ET, he will co-chair, with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a meeting of the leaders of the Friends of Pakistan. He will depart from New York at 2:20 p.m. ET, arriving at 3:30 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At 6 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will greet leaders of the G-20 and their spouses. At 7:30 p.m. ET, Obama will attend a G-20 leaders working dinner.

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Blue Dogs

Blue Dogs: We Share Obama's Commitment to Passing Reform this Year

Brian Beutler | September 9, 2009, 10:48PM

The Blue Dog co-chair Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) is out with a mostly non-committal response to the President's speech. I've placed it below the fold, but in the most significant part of it, Sandlin says, "Blue Dogs agree with President Obama that the insurance market should be reformed. We must end the practice of denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, and we must eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse that is currently bankrupting the system."

Adds Herseth-Sandlin, "The Blue Dogs share the President's commitment to passing health care reform this year, and we look forward to continuing the important work of crafting this critical legislation."

Read more »

Health Care

Blue Dogs Return to Congress More Skeptical of Health Care Bill--But Does It Matter?

Brian Beutler | September 9, 2009, 7:26PM

After working out a deal to weaken it, Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--chairman of the Blue Dogs' health care task force--has now publicly stated that he'll oppose any health care bill with a public option. The news rankled progressives, who believe the public option in the House is already compromised enough. But is Ross' statement indicative of a larger post-August shift in Blue Dog sentiment.

The short answer is yes--at least to some extent.

According to one Blue Dog aide, skepticism rose among members of the coalition not as a result of wacked-out tea baggers, but because, toward the end of the month, they had heard a different kind of skepticism.

Read more »

Blue Dogs

NRCC Radio Ad Uses Blue Dog's Words Against Pelosi

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 12:38PM

A new radio ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee is taking advantage of Democratic divisions in conservative swing seats, targeting one Democrat by using another Democrat's criticism of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Here's the ad, targeting freshman Blue Dog Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL). The ad refers to recent remarks by Park Griffith, another freshman Alabama Blue Dog, who said that he would not vote again for Pelosi as Speaker.

Click To Play

"Even some Democrats are tired of Nancy Pelosi," the man says, saying how "One Alabama Democrat congressman says he cannot support her an-y more." However, he explains: "Bobby Bright is sticking with Pelosi. Bright votes with Pelosi 70 percent of the time."

Health Care

Key Blue Dog Backs Conrad: There Aren't Enough Votes For Public Option In Senate

Brian Beutler | August 19, 2009, 12:44PM

House Blue Dog Jim Cooper (D-TN) says the math just isn't there for the public option.

"It's really not an ideological question; it's a question of how you pass a bill," he explained. "We don't have 60 Democratic votes in the Senate."

According to The Hill, "Cooper pointed to the prolonged absences of Sens. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), arguing that Senate Democrats were two votes short of forcing through any legislation past a filibuster, and would need to draw in at least two Republicans to support the final outcome."

That echoes the concerns of Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who's a leading proponent of creating member-owned health care co-operatives instead of a public option. Kennedy's has been battling brain cancer for over a year, and hasn't been seen in public for months. But Byrd returned to the Senate on the eve of August recess to cast an affirmative vote on the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Cooper and Conrad may or may not be right about the public option's prospects in the Senate. But equally worrying are the co-ops' prospects in the House, where scores of progressives have vowed to oppose legislation that doesn't include a government run plan.

Blue Dogs

Boehner To PhRMA's Tauzin: In Both War And Policy, Appeasement Doesn't Work

Brian Beutler | August 18, 2009, 9:50AM

An angry John Boehner has sent a heat-seeking missive to a former caucus mate: former GOP Rep, and current PhRMA president Billy Tauzin.

In the letter, which Boehner forwarded to the executives of PhRMA's member companies, the House Minority Leader charges that PhRMA's alliance with the White House on health care reform amounts to appeasement. "Appeasement rarely works as a conflict resolution strategy," Boehner writes. "The simple truth is, two wrongs don't make a right. And the short-sighted health care deal PhRMA struck with the Obama Administration at your urging provides confirmation of this time-tested maxim on an epic and tragic scale."

You can read the entire letter here. It comes as the relationship between the White House and PhRMA has soured slightly.

"The Obama Administration tacitly acknowledged last week that the President will not be bound by the $80 billion limit PhRMA and its board of directors were led to believe had been secured in exchange for your organization's support of the Administration's health care takeover," Boehner writes, "and key Democrats...have said explicitly they will not honor the agreement."

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Health Care

Key Blue Dog Boasts: We Held Health Care Hostage For 10 Days

Brian Beutler | August 7, 2009, 2:51PM

Via Firedoglake comes the below video, of Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), the Blue Dog's health care point man, boasting of holding House health care legislation hostage in the Energy and Commerce Committee for 10 days.

Ross also repeats a common, but strangely tone deaf, "critique" of a robust public option, tied to Medicare, nothing that "Medicare has really good rates, because they're negotiating for every senior in America." How horrible.

Blue Dogs

RNC Targets Blue Dogs In New Radio Ads

Eric Kleefeld | August 6, 2009, 10:58AM

The Blue Dogs just can't get a break. In addition to facing rhetorical fire from the left -- that is, from liberals who think they're too conservative on health care -- they're now facing fire from the right, in a new wave of radio ads from the Republican National Committee.

The new radio ads are targeting the four Blue Dog Congressmen who helped advance the health care bill out of committee: Bart Gordon (TN), Zack Space (OH), Baron Hill (IN) and Mike Ross (AR).

"[Congressman NAME] could have stopped the expensive Obama-Pelosi health care plan dead in its tracks," the announcer says. "[Congressman NAME] held a vote that counted. But instead of using that vote to help taxpayers, [Congressman NAME] used it to help Obama and Pelosi."

The Mike Ross version is available here. The full script is available after the jump.

Read more »

Congressional Progressive Caucus

Waxman: Health Care Bill Still On Track

Brian Beutler | July 31, 2009, 11:11AM

Just as a bit of an update, since there have been so many ups and downs, House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) says health care legislation is still on track to pass his panel, probably before day's end.

Waxman says he's managed to mollify progressives on his panel by restoring some subsidies to uninsured, middle-class Americans who, under the terms of the bill, will have to buy health care on the individual market. At a glance, this mini-bargain doesn't seem as if it will placate the 57 progressive signatories to this letter, who say they won't vote for the final bill unless minor changes to the public option, made at the behest of House Blue Dogs, are reversed.

But I'll look into it.

Blue Dogs

Update: After Public Option Concession To Blue Dogs, 57 House Progressives Say They'll Vote

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 8:11PM

As an update to this post, 57 House progressives have now signed a letter vowing to vote against health care legislation unless concessions to conservative Blue Dogs related to the public option are reversed. That's up from 53 this afternoon, which was already more than enough, in theory, to kill the bill. You can view the final copy of the letter, including all signatories at this link.

Health Care

HCAN: We Remain Confident House Will Endorse Robust Public Option

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 4:25PM

The campaign Health Care for America Now doesn't like the Blue Dog compromise either--but they aren't drawing a line in the sand about it either.

"The demands made by some Blue Dog Democrats will result in higher costs for families," says HCAN's national campaign director Richard Kirsch.

First, they will weaken the public health insurance option's ability to drive down prices, and second, they will shrink the amount of assistance provided to middle-class families who buy health coverage.

We are confident that the House ultimately will pass legislation that includes a strong public health insurance option that lowers prices and provides financial assistance so that health insurance is truly affordable to all

Blue Dogs

Despite Progressive Objections House Committee Still On Track To Pass Bill

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 3:06PM

Of the 53 progressives who have signed a letter saying they won't abide by the compromises Democratic leaders offered to Blue Dogs, none sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee--the panel where health care legislation originally stalled, necessitating the concessions in the first place.

That leaves the legislation in decent shape to pass out of the committee in time for August recess. But this throws the bill's prospects on the floor into some doubt. If the compromises Blue Dogs fought for--particularly a public option that isn't tied to Medicare--are included in the legislation, and progressives stick to their pledge, then the bill won't have enough votes to pass. But if the public option were to be restrengthened, it could alienate enough Blue Dogs to similarly imperil the legislation.

Blue Dogs

In Letter, House Progressives Object To Blue Dog Public Option Compromise

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 2:28PM

In a letter to be delivered to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House health care leaders, Congressional progressives will reject a compromise Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) forged with Blue Dog Democrats to advance legislation. "We regard the agreement reached by Chairman Waxman and several Blue Dog members of the [Energy and Commerce] Committee as fundamentally unacceptable," it reads.

This agreement is not a step forward toward a good health care bill, but a large step backwards. Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates - not negotiated rates - is unacceptable.

You can read the letter, the text of which was obtained by TPMDC, below the fold. It was being circulated for signatures until early this afternoon*, and could be released officially later today. Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are hoping 50 or more members will sign on, to prove they have enough votes to kill the final bill. Earlier today, over 30 had added their names to it, according to one source, but that number could have grown. We'll get you more details as they're made available.

Late update: House Progressives have announced that they've rounded up 53 signatures--if every one of them legitimately votes against a bill that incorporates the compromises the Blue Dogs extracted, they would kill it.

Late, late update: * After making it to 50 signatures, progressives will continue to seek signatures, hoping to achieve 60.

Read more »

Blue Dogs

After Quelling Progressive Rebellion, House Health Care Mark-Up Continues This Morning

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 9:06AM

After several derailings, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is once again on track to mark up health care legislation, and should resume deliberations this morning.

After brokering a deal with Blue Dog Democrats yesterday, chairman Henry Waxman thought he'd cleared the last big pre-recess hurdle standing in the way of a committee vote on health care legislation. He expected to resume mark up yesterday afternoon en route to a Friday passage. But then, House progressives--reluctant to further weaken the public option, but, moreover, displeased with leadership's solicitousness of conservative Democrats--threw another obstacle in the way, and threatened to block the bill once more. Addressing those objections proved challenging for House leaders, and led Waxman to (again) delay proceedings.

But last night there was yet another breakthrough, as House progressives agreed, reluctantly, to let the bill move forward. They note that there remains plenty of opposition among House progressives, and are still holding out the possibility of opposing the final legislation. But for now it looks like the committee will wrap things up before recess and a final bill will be put together for a likely floor vote in September.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

House Progressives Force Another Mark-Up Delay

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 5:36PM

And here we go again. Now that House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman has enough Blue Dog support to pass the bill, he has to sell it with progressives. And that's not proving to be as easy as he'd hoped.

"[They] have a lot of questions about the legislation," Waxman told reporters, "and I think it's more important that we sit in the Democratic Caucus and let people ask questions, get answers, hear each other out."

What exactly are their concerns? Well, for one, the compromise included a change to the public option that could weaken it on the merits. As originally written, the House bill would have temporarily tied the public option's pay rates to Medicare rates. Now they'll be negotiated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, meaning the rates will vary regionally, and often fall closer to private insurance rates than government rates.

But more generally, the Congressional Progressive Caucus basically believes that their views have been marginalized throughout the Blue Dog process, and are understandably frustrated about being asked to accept compromises with Blue Dogs when they've already compromised a great deal. Last week, several House progressives warned that they couldn't tolerate any further weakening of the public option, and asked to play a greater role in negotiations. Now they feel leaders ignored their concerns.

The mark up was scheduled to resume tonight, but now it looks like it will have to wait until tomorrow, with the goal still to pass the bill by Friday.

Blue Dogs

How Many Blue Dogs Will Support House Health Care Reform Legislation?

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 5:23PM

Four out of seven Energy and Commerce Blue Dogs have signed on to a compromise on health care reform legislation. But can we use that split as a stand in for the broader Blue Dog caucus? Not necessarily.

"The 52-member Blue Dog Coalition has not taken a group position on the draft health care legislation that is working through the committee process," said Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration. "Today's announcement signifies that the committee process is moving forward. The committee will work its will, but the broader coalition has not ratified any agreements related to the draft legislation."

"If you poll the Blue Dog coalition individually and separately, you'll find that not everybody is on the same page and there is no position collectively," said Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) one of the three Energy and Commerce Blue Dogs who still opposes the bill.

To provide a bit more data still, only one of the five Blue Dogs on the Education and Labor, and Ways and Means Commmittees--Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)--voted for the legislation.

But that was before this compromise was brokered, and even then, other Blue Dogs had articulated support for health care reform. At the same time, last week, House progressives told Democratic leaders they could not countenance any further weakening of the public option--and today the House's public option was somewhat weakened.

Which is all to say that barring the defection of a number of House progressives, Henry Waxman bought himself and his allies in leadership some breathing room today.

Health Care

Three Key Blue Dogs Still Oppose House Health Care Legislation

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 4:32PM

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to resume its health care mark-up session this afternoon, after winning over four of the seven Blue Dogs who had been holding it up for several days.

That means three of the Blue Dogs still oppose the legislation, though. And that means committee Chairman Henry Waxman is still working to squeeze the bill through a very small window. There aren't very many progressives on the committee but if more than a couple of them are unhappy with the details of the compromise leaders struck with Blue Dogs, it could once again leave Waxman without enough votes to pass his bill.

Speaker Pelosi has been meeting with progressives to allay their concerns, so that things can proceed as planned.

My sense from conversations with some House aides is that another blow up's not terribly likely. But as you may have noticed if you've been paying attention to the process thus far, just about anything can happen. And, for what it's worth, that's the political math.

Health Care

Report: House Reaches Deal On Health Care, But No Vote Until September

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 12:54PM

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.

Health Care

As August Deadline Approaches In House, Blue Dogs, Liberals, Still Far Apart On Health Care

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 2:29PM

A number of high profile Democrats are expressing public doubt that the House can pass health care in the next few days before it's set to adjourn for August recess. Chief among them is Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

"You understand that if we pass something out of committee this week, we've got to spend the month of August putting together the three bills," Hoyer told Roll Call. "Saturday and next week is available. Now whether or not there will be any productive reason to stay for that period of time remains to be seen over the next couple of days."

Part of the problem, as I suggested earlier, is that the news out of the Senate has widened a rift between House liberals and Blue Dogs. Rep. George MIller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and an author of House health care legislation, isn't at all pleased with the watered down reform bill the Senate Finance Committee is set to propose.

"I don't think that adds up to health care reform. It doesn't add up to insurance reform. It doesn't add up to keeping costs down. I don't know what the hell that adds up to," Miller said.

Meanwhile, Alpha Dog Bart Stupak says the Finance Committee's expected proposal is yet more evidence that the House needs to scale things back.

"The Senate's on a completely different agenda," Stupak said. "I've been here long enough, you do a bill and you get a plank sawed off behind you."

Stupak is one of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee who's objected to the House's bill. He and his six allies are now trying to decide whether to back a compromise offered by chairman Henry Waxman--but the Finance Committee's on such a different--and less progressive--page that they're wary about striking any kind of deal.

Blue Dogs

After Health Care Meeting, Blue Dogs Agree To Hold More Meetings

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 12:11PM

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.

Blue Dogs

In Wake Of Finance Committee Report, Blue Dogs Mull Offer From Waxman

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 10:06AM

To borrow a Rumsfeld-ism for a moment, one of the health care debate's known unknowns may soon become a bit clearer. To wit, we may soon know just how much the Senate Finance Committee's negotiations will impact negotiations in the House?

Last night, House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman made an offer to seven Blue Dogs on his committee, lead by Alpha Dog Mike Ross. This morning, Ross will take that offer to the rest of the Blue Dog coalition to gauge how much support it has among conservative Democrats.

But here's the thing: The slow-down in the House has been driven in part by the fact that conservative Democrats don't want to go out on a limb and support a proposal that's significantly more liberal than what the Senate Finance Committee's cobbling together. Now we have a bit more clarity on that proposal, and it's--unsurprisingly--significantly weaker than what the House originally drafted. That'll no doubt weigh heavily on the minds of several Blue Dogs. But how much? I suspect we'll know more after this morning's meeting.

Blue Dogs

Blue Dog Compromise Would Impact About Three Million Uninsured

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 12:21PM

Last week, I noted that a number of progressive interest groups were urging House health care leaders to reject a compromise that would limit subsidies to the uninsured in order to push down the cost of reform legislation.

Blue Dogs have objected to the idea of taxing high-income earners to pay for about half the price of the Democrats' health care bill, and have instead proposed eliminating a proposal to partially subsidize the cost of health insurance for uninsured Americans living between 300 and 400 percent of the poverty line.

But how many people is that? According to this paper (PDF) by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation, the answer is a startling 2.7 million people. Note, these people--now uninsured--would be required under the terms of the legislation to buy insurance on the individual market, which averages over $12,000 a year per family nationwide. That figure would presumably decrease over time as a number of other price-controlling provisions kicked into high gear. But in the meantime, Blue Dogs are talking about forcing a great number of middle class American families to take on a significant expenditure in order to spare families making over $350,000 from suffering a small increase in marginal rates.

Late update: For more on this, check out this piece by Robert Pear in the New York Times

Health Care

After A Tumultuous Friday, House Health Care Negotiations Back On Track

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 11:22AM

If you're following the ins and outs of the health care reform fight on Capitol Hill, Friday was brimming with drama, but was also, seemingly, of little particular consequence. One can only speculate about what was said behind closed doors, but in the end, the trajectory of the day's events is best captured by a chronological reading of its headlines, which began blandly enough with the news that health care negotiations would continue behind closed doors between Blue Dogs and Democratic leaders; followed by puzzling news of a complete breakdown in those negotiations; and rounded out, mercifully, with the news that the warring factions had made peace and that the process would pick up again on Monday or Tuesday.

Unless tensions boil over once again (unlikely, but never impossible) things are basically right back where they were on Friday morning. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will finish marking up its health care package this week, and, depending on a number of issues--timing, progress in the Senate--that bill could come to a vote before the House adjourns for recess at week's end.

Whether that happens, or whether a vote waits until September, Speaker Pelosi continues to sound notes of confidence. "When I take this bill to the floor, it will win," Pelosi said over the weekend. "This will happen."

Blue Dogs

Blue Dog: Climate Change Vote Damaged Health Care Cause

Brian Beutler | July 27, 2009, 9:29AM

This is an interesting argument, coming from Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), health care reform skeptic, and the Blue Dogs' point man on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"I don't know whose decision it was to put cap-and-trade first, but it was a huge mistake," Ross said. "It's a divisive issue. I felt like we had the opportunity to do one thing before the August recess . . . and everybody agrees we need to reform health care."

But Ross voted no on the Waxman-Markey bill, and his arguments about health care reform have not, until now, been chiefly about the number of risky votes he and other conservative Democrats have been asked to take. This argument would make more sense coming from a vulnerable freshman or sophomore who voted for cap-and-trade legislation than from a Blue Dog leader.

Blue Dogs

Mark Up To Continue On Energy And Commerce Committee

Brian Beutler | July 24, 2009, 5:37PM

Here's the latest--though not to say final--word on the status of health care negotiations in the House. If you were wondering why the Energy and Commerce Committee would go live with a district-by-district analysis of the impact health care reform will have on its members, that's because it now looks like Waxman will not be fast-tracking the legislation by bypassing the panel altogether.

After several hours of chaos, it seems as if there's been something of a rapprochement between leaders and Blue Dogs and the mark-up process will continue next week. But as today's developments should make abundantly clear, with tensions this high anything can change.

Blue Dogs

Energy And Commerce Committee Says Blue Dog Ross' Constituents Would Benefit From Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | July 24, 2009, 5:29PM

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has just released a district by district analysis for its members of the impacts of Democratic health care reform legislation. Here's what it says about the constituents of Mike Ross, the Blue Dog on the panel who's taken the lead in attacking the legislation.

Under the legislation, small businesses with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $40,000 qualify for tax credits of up to 50% of the costs of providing health insurance. There are up to 12,500 small businesses in the district that could qualify for these credits....

Each year, 6,700 seniors in the district hit the donut hole and are forced to pay their full drug costs, despite having Part D drug coverage. The legislation would provide them with immediate relief, cutting brand name drug costs in the donut hole by 50%, and ultimately eliminate the donut hole.

There are 144,000 uninsured individuals in the district, 22% of the district. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationwide, 97% of all Americans will have insurance coverage when the bill takes effect. If this benchmark is reached in the district, 124,000 people who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.

You can read the report on Ross' district here, and the rest of the reports here.

Health Care

Scattered Dems Regrouping As Tensions Erupt

Brian Beutler | July 24, 2009, 3:53PM

This story is changing so quickly, it's all but impossible to stay on top of--but here are a few key issues--cribbed from conversations and my own observations--to keep you moored.

First of all, because everything's moving so fast, just about anything's possible.

Second, it really does seem as if the Blue Dog negotiations are dead. Differences are irreconcilable and time is basically up.

Earlier today, Waxman struck a deal with rural Democrats, concerned with Medicare reimbursement rates in their districts. It's unclear whether he thought that deal meant he'd shored up enough support for the bill that he no longer needed acquiescence of the Blue Dogs on his committee, but once that deal was struck he told them, basically, to play ball or go home. So they went home.

Democrats seem to have entered regroup mode, after mixed messages flew across the Capitol. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on the floor that a vote on a bill before recess is unlikely (though he added that the House might stay in session past next Friday if success was in reach). House Whip James Clyburn, was more hopeful, saying that all decisions would be made after Waxman and Speaker Pelosi sit down and take stock of where things stand. And within the last hour or so there's been something of a lock down on new, verifiable information as Democratic leaders figure out what to do next.

Blue Dogs

House Talks Break Down--Will Waxman Steam Roll Blue Dogs?

Brian Beutler | July 24, 2009, 2:53PM

Just about an hour ago, negotiations between Blue Dogs on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chairman Henry Waxman broke down, perhaps irreconcilably.

Earlier today, Waxman lashed out at the conservative Democrats for trying to "eviscerate" house health care legislation, and threatened to bypass their concerns completely in order to get a timely floor vote on a healthy bill. That seems to have sent tempers flaring.

"It pretty much fell apart this afternoon," said key Blue Dog Mike Ross (D-AR), who called Waxman's rhetoric "not helpful," according to Congressional Quarterly.

"It's my understanding that will be the last meeting we have," Ross said.

Now the ball is in Waxman's court. Will he try to mark the bill up anyhow? Or will he freeze them out completely. Democratic leaders will host a caucus meeting on Monday to address all members' concerns about the bill--a sign, perhaps, that they aren't going to wait for this intra-panel tiff to be resolved. If that's the case, all eyes will return again to the Blue Dogs to see whether they'll revolt against the bill. Showdown!

Health Care

Waxman Says There May Be No Alternative To Bypassing His Committee

Brian Beutler | July 24, 2009, 11:56AM

House Energy and Commerce chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) says his panel's Blue Dogs must relent, or he and leaders will move health care legislation directly to the floor, bypassing the committee altogether.

This morning, he told reporters that Blue Dogs are trying to "eviscerate" the landmark legislation. "I won't allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans," Waxman said.

"I dont see what other alternative we have, because we're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee."