Nasdaq.com: Centrist Dem Leader: Has Committee Votes To Block Health Bill

[Oldskool]

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stockmark...djonline000758

Centrist Dem Leader: Has Committee Votes To Block Health Bill


By Martin Vaughan, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of fiscally conservative House Democrats, said Wednesday a House plan to overhaul the U.S. health-care system is losing support and will be stuck in committee without changes.

"Last time I checked, it takes seven Democrats to stop a bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee," Ross told reporters after a House vote. "We had seven against it last Friday; we have 10 today."

Three House committees are slated to begin considering the $1 trillion-plus bill this week, but the Energy and Commerce looms as the biggest challenge. That's because it counts among its 36 Democratic members seven members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a fiscally conservative bloc that is opposing the House Democrats' effort.

Ross said the bill, introduced Wednesday by House Democratic leaders, doesn't include provisions adequate to curb rising health care costs, including what the government spends on healthcare.

"The current bill would have to be substantially amended before we could consider supporting it," Ross said.

The Energy and Commerce panel is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to kick off its review of the legislation, but its session is expected to stretch into late next week.

Ross said Blue Dogs have been meeting every day to craft amendments that will be offered during that meeting, but offered no details on what those amendments are. He said those amendments could number in the dozens.

Ross said he expects Blue Dogs will meet with the panel's chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., soon to discuss their specific proposed changes.

-By Martin Vaughan, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9244; martin.vaughan@ dowjones.com

[ACW]

[SnyderShrugged]

I'll believe it when I see it. the "blue dogs" historically play the game of always delivering just enough votes for a measure to pass while simultaniousl;y delivering just enough No's to portray that they "fought the good fight".

[Oldskool]

I'll believe it when I see it. the "blue dogs" historically play the game of always delivering just enough votes for a measure to pass while simultaniousl;y delivering just enough No's to portray that they "fought the good fight".

One can only hope they are more afraid of being swept out of office next year than they are of Waxman/Pelosi/Obama.

[SnyderShrugged]

One can only hope they are more afraid of being swept out of office next year than they are of Waxman/Pelosi/Obama.

I honestly don't think the blue dogs ever really are conservative. It's a nice way for them to appear to their constituents who while disaffected with the GOP had no place to turn but a Dem who proclaims they are conservative.

I think the whole blue dog group is simply a way to give the appearance of bipartisanship when it really isnt present.

[twa]

You wanna bet they get bought off?...it's worked so far on every bill.

[PeterMP]

You wanna bet they get bought off?...it's worked so far on every bill.

Yeah, but even that has an effect that makes things more difficult to for the Senate.

I think you know that I generally support the cap and trade idea, but I don't really support that boondoggle that they passed. I'm not going to get on the phone and tell my Senator he has to vote for something w/ all of that stuff (I did complain to my Rep that they passed the monstrosisty instead of considering the thing independently and passing it like they should have).

[LaxBuddy21]

Well maybe someone in the Democratic party will stand up and do whats right for this country instead of pushing their party agenda non-stop! (Republicans would be doing the same thing so dont think I am targeting one party or the other. The Dems just happen to be in power now). We need people to start working together and doing whats best for the nation rather than what will get votes. We have to remember that the American people on the whole are short sighted and impulsive so someone has to control what actually gets passed with some forethought. I applaud these guys as long as they follow through and do not just get bought off.

[mjah]

We have to remember that the American people on the whole are short sighted and impulsive so someone has to control what actually gets passed with some forethought.

Hard to argue with that -- and the Founding Fathers agreed.

[difleha]

Thanks God for these smart young men. If only we had one of them for President, this country would have been in a better place. And that's coming from a Republican.