DeLauro: Full Speed Ahead To Health Care Reform

[babylonsister]

DeLauro: Full Speed Ahead To Health Care Reform
Brian Beutler | January 5, 2010, 12:02PM


A leading pro-choice progressive in the House is taking a fairly optimistic view of the looming tug of war over health care, brushing off concerns that liberal members are getting short shrift, and suggesting that, despite restrictive abortion language in both the House and Senate bills, reform will be a major step forward for women.

"An informal conference process will still achieve the same goal as a formal conference committee: passing health reform," Rep. Rosa DeLauro tells TPMDC.

Yesterday, Democrats confirmed that they would circumvent the formal channel by which many House and Senate bills are combined--a move many progressives have opposed, suspecting a streamlined process would cut them out of negotiations. DeLauro says there's nothing to fear.

"The informal process will likely involve calling up the Senate bill on the floor and adding any compromise language as amendments, and I look forward to working out the differences between the House and Senate bills in whatever capacity is decided upon," DeLauro says via email. "Regardless of the method in which is it conferenced, the most important thing is that both houses have passed health care reform, and taken a huge step towards fulfilling our responsibility to ensure that quality, affordable health care is available to all Americans."

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/delauro-full-speed-ahead-to-health-care-reform.php?ref=fpb

[damntexdem]

1. I'd like to think so. And I understand the necessity, given the GOP's obstructionism.

Still, it would be better to have a more-open process.

Of course, the real issue is how well progressives can hold out for adequate reform, whatever the process.

[tabatha]

2. An open process would be an invitation to the

Republicans to distort, lie and scream !

[DJ13]

3. Which they will do anyway

So why not have an open process so we can watch the sellout of the american people to the insurance companies for ourselves?

[tabatha]

5. No reform is a sell-out.

[avaistheone1]

4. What a nightmare.

The corporations and Wall Street are wetting their pants in glee.