Research Briefing

As Government-Run Health Care Negotiations Implode, Dem Leaders Steamroll Dem Opposition

FRIDAY AFTERNOON HEADLINES SAY IT ALL

“House Dems’ Health Care Chaos.” (Jonathan Karl, ABC News’ “The Note” Blog, 7/24/09)

“Health Care Talks Fall Apart” (Alex Isenstadt, Politico, 7/24/09)

“House Dissidents Still Not Satisfied on Health Bill” (Drew Armstrong, Alex Wayne And Edward Epstein, CQ Today, 7/24/09)

“Talks With Blue Dogs Appear Dead” (Steven Dennis, Roll Call, 7/24/09)

FIREWORKS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS IN KEY HOUSE COMMITTEE

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR): “It’s My Understanding That Will Be The Last Meeting We Have.” (Steven Dennis, “Talks With Blue Dogs Appear Dead,” Roll Call, 7/24/09)

“Visibly Angry” Blue Dogs Betrayed By Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA). “A visibly angry Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the Blue Dog health care task force chairman, said Waxman reneged on deals the two sides had previously agreed on: an independent Medicare commission and adopting Senate language on a public insurance option. He also said Waxman’s threats to bring the bill straight to the floor — and bypass a markup in Energy and Commerce — were not helpful.” (Steven Dennis, “Talks With Blue Dogs Appear Dead,” Roll Call, 7/24/09)

Waxman Abandons Own Committee To Send Bill Directly To House Floor. “Just half a year after ousting veteran Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell, the panel's new chairman, Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., admitted he is close to giving up on getting enough votes to get a health care overhaul through committee. Instead, Waxman said he'll ask Democratic leaders to take the bill away from the committee and put it on the floor without the panel's official imprimatur if he is not able to cut a deal with conservative Blue Dog Democrats soon… It was a stunning concession by a chairman of one of Congress' most powerful committees, and it raises the question of whether Dingell -- who is working to pass the bill -- would have fared better in advancing it as chairman.” (Jonathan Allen, “Waxman Readies White Flag On Health,” CQ Politics, 7/24/09)

Waxman Would Rather Give Up His Committee’s Influence Than Allow Bipartisan Input. “Waxman was meeting again Friday with Blue Dog members of his committee who have balked at supporting the bill, leading him to break off markups this week. ‘I think they will agree to let our committee go forward with markup and not vote with Republicans to eviscerate the legislation,’ he said. ‘I will not allow them to turn over control of the committee to Republicans, as they’ve threatened to do.’” (Drew Armstrong, Richard Rubin and Edward Epstein, “House Leaders Say They’ve Met Concerns of Dissident Democrats,” CQ Today, 7/24/09)

PELOSI VS. HOYER: EVEN HOUSE DEM LEADERSHIP IN DISARRAY

House Democrat Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) Wants To Delay, But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Won’t Listen. “The fight over the health care debate has sprouted an oldie-but-goodie storyline -- rising tensions between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her No. 2, Steny Hoyer over legislative tactics. Hoyer raised eyebrows earlier this week by saying punting the vote through the August recess wouldn't be the worst thing. Pelosi responded by saying she hoped to hold the vote before next week's recess -- and predicted she would have the votes.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi-Hoyer Tension On Health Care Vote?” Politico, 7/24/09)