House GOP Welcomes Overture From Blue Dogs

[babylonsister]

House GOP Welcomes Overture From Blue Dogs
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff


The Blue Dog revolt against the House leadership’s health care overhaul took a new turn Tuesday morning, when a several members of the centrist faction made overtures to House Republicans about joining forces to slow and reshape the bill.

Republican aides said there was great interest among GOP lawmakers in trying to work with dissidents in the 52-member Blue Dog Coalition to try to stop the legislation. “Blue Dogs will be the main event all week,” said one GOP aide, referring to efforts by Republicans to woo Blue Dogs

GOP leaders mentioned nothing at their press briefing about the participation of Blue Dogs in their usual weekly GOP Conference meeting. Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio said only that he was hopeful that a delay in the planned floor vote this week would prompt Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and her leadership team to “come across the aisle to work with us.”

After leaving the GOP conference room, Charlie Melancon , a Blue Dog co-chairman, said he and other Blue Dogs were hopeful there could be more talks between the parties about the legislation. He said he wanted more time to study the bill and negotiate possible changes, and would not be disappointed if the floor vote was postponed until after the recess. That was a view shared by many Republicans.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003179011

[el_bryanto]

1. Republicans love Democrats who agree with them

In particular they like saying "This action is so egregious that even a few honest Democrats saw through it and are standing up to it."

Bryant