House healthcare talks break down in anger

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

House healthcare talks break down in anger

House healthcare negotiations dissolved in acrimony on Friday, with Blue Dog Democrats saying they were “lied” to by their Democratic leaders.

The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting with their committee chairman, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), saying Waxman had been negotiating in bad faith over a number of provisions Blue Dogs demanded be changed in the stalled healthcare bill.

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday. “We have not had legitimate negotiations.

“Mr. Waxman has decided to sever discussions with the Blue Dogs who are trying to make this bill work for America,” Melancon said.

Although those Blue Dogs were supposed to be headed back into another meeting of the Energy and Commerce Democrats, their anger was visible.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, the only hope for passage of the bill in the House will be to go straight to the floor, an option leaders shied away from endorsing but said was an option.

But the Blue Dogs issued dire warnings to leaders contemplating that approach.

"Waxman simply does not have votes in committee and process should not be bypassed to bring the bill straight to floor,” Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the lead Blue Dog negotiator, said on Friday. “We are trying to save this bill and trying to save this party.”

Melancon said there would be 40-45 “solid no” votes from the 52-strong Blue Dogs, among other problems throughout the caucus.

“If they try to bring it to the floor, I think they’ll find out they have more problems than the Blue Dogs.”

A leadership aide said no decisions have been made on how to proceed.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-...2009-07-24.html

[dalegg 143]

They are actually called Blue Dogs?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They are actually called Blue Dogs?

Yep. The so-called Reagan Democrats. They used to be called Yellow Dog Democrats.

[dalegg 143]

They are actually called Blue Dogs?

Yep. The so-called Reagan Democrats. They used to be called Yellow Dog Democrats.

I thought it was a nickname. In any case, if there are 40-45 Democrats that are against this bill, why would anyone think there would be even one Republican for it?

[SMOKE 1,426]

what? say it ain't so. obama was lying about the rebublicans stopping this bill. & some democrats realize if they hammer this down our throats they are done.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

lord obama won't be pleased.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

All the health care bills that are rotating in the House are garbage. They do nothing to reform the healthcare system and even less in terms of containing costs. As long as private insurance companies milk the health care system to the tune of $300bn - $450bn per annum - an amount set to increase as more policies would be forced their way - this system is headed for ruin.

Set a limit on the overhead that would be in line with what government insurance systems absorb (say 5% tops) - this should be agreeable by those that make the argument that private enterprise is more efficient that government. 5% overhead is the top range for government run insurance so the private players should be able to keep within that margin and still produce a profit.

Re-structure the compensation for medical providers away from fee-for-service

Throw in TORT reform to take the wind out of the sails of the naysayers (won't do much more since this is such a negligible protion of the health care expenditure to begin with).

Done.

[HAL 9000 96]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

lord obama won't be pleased.

Neither is everyone that is getting screwed by ridiculous healthcare costs.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

lord obama won't be pleased.

Neither is everyone that is getting screwed by ridiculous healthcare costs.

guess you missed Mr. Big Dog's post. here is the truth of the matter HAL.

'All the health care bills that are rotating in the House are garbage. They do nothing to reform the healthcare system and even less in terms of containing costs.'

Mr. Big Dog

[GaryC 7]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

lord obama won't be pleased.

Neither is everyone that is getting screwed by ridiculous healthcare costs.

guess you missed Mr. Big Dog's post. here is the truth of the matter HAL.

'All the health care bills that are rotating in the House are garbage. They do nothing to reform the healthcare system and even less in terms of containing costs.'

Mr. Big Dog

Yep, Dog and I finally agree on something. Is the ground getting cold under my feet?

[HAL 9000 96]

Sounds like there are traitors in the Socialist ranks.

lord obama won't be pleased.

Neither is everyone that is getting screwed by ridiculous healthcare costs.

guess you missed Mr. Big Dog's post. here is the truth of the matter HAL.

'All the health care bills that are rotating in the House are garbage. They do nothing to reform the healthcare system and even less in terms of containing costs.'

Mr. Big Dog

It might be the case. I also think that you missed the point of my post- namely:

"everyone that is getting screwed by ridiculous healthcare costs."

meaning:

insurance premiums, deductibles, out of pocket costs, etc. Not just the cost of medical services going up and up and up.

Yes- those need to be addressed as well. As Big Dog has stated often.

[mRx 16]

insurance premiums, deductibles, out of pocket costs, etc. Not just the cost of medical services going up and up and up.

Insurance costs are entirely dependent on rising medical service costs.

Any legislature designed at attacking the effect will not change the cause, for the rising medical costs are independant of insurance costs.

[HAL 9000 96]

insurance premiums, deductibles, out of pocket costs, etc. Not just the cost of medical services going up and up and up.

Insurance costs are entirely dependent on rising medical service costs.

Any legislature designed at attacking the effect will not change the cause, for the rising medical costs are independant of insurance costs.

Partially agree with you. Regardless of who is the cause, both need to be regulated down.

[mRx 16]

insurance premiums, deductibles, out of pocket costs, etc. Not just the cost of medical services going up and up and up.

Insurance costs are entirely dependent on rising medical service costs.

Any legislature designed at attacking the effect will not change the cause, for the rising medical costs are independant of insurance costs.

Partially agree with you. Regardless of who is the cause, both need to be regulated down.

Both are heavily regulated already. Breaking the regulated cartel and allowing competiton is the right direction.