Blue Dog Heath Care Back On --- For Now

[bluestateguy]

Source: Huffington Post

Health care reform negotiations in the House, which had collapsed in an acrimonious heap earlier Friday, are now back on. Two Democrats who had been at odds -- Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and leading Blue Dog Mike Ross (D-Ark.) -- emerged from a closed-door meeting late in the afternoon and told reporters talks were back on track and that the committee would resume its business Monday or Tuesday.

"We've had a very good meeting of the Democrats on our committee. We've decided that it's important for us to continue our conversations and to try to bridge the differences we have had," said Waxman. Ross concurred.

"Our colleagues have pulled us back and said, 'Let's see if we can take a deep breath,'" Waxman offered.

Tempers had flared throughout the day, with one Blue Dog accusing Waxman of lying during negotiations and Ross saying that there was no chance for a deal.

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/lead-blue-dog-health-care_n_244496.html

[xchrom]

1. don't ask me to say anything nice about BlueCross dems. nt

[patrice]

2. Waxman's staffer sounded distinctly pleased on the phone this pm when I mentioned I live in a BD dis

trict.

[annabanana]

4. Patrice!.. Are there any uninsured folk in your district that

might like to drop by the local offices..

(envisioning hoards in an ad hoc tent city)

I DO believe that a local show during this recess would be useful.

[patrice]

5. There are a couple of grassroots groups working on that.

I'm with the one that is exclusively working for Single Payer.

[annabanana]

3. That's odd. . NONE of the Network news shows said they were back "on". .

I guess it served their purposes better to leave the impression of failure on Friday . . . . .