The negotiations between House Energy and Commerce Chairman
Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and seven conservative Democrats on his
panel fell apart Friday afternoon after the chairman told
reporters he could move the bill to the floor without a
committee vote.
Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, the top negotiator for conservative
Democrats in the Blue Dog Coalition, told reporters Friday that
the negotiations "pretty much fell apart this afternoon."
In a meeting with Blue Dogs Friday, Waxman rescinded two
previous concessions to help cut health care costs over time
and ensure the government-sponsored health care won't impede on
the private market.
Asked how this leaves the negotiations, Ross said it "leaves
the chairman with not enough votes to get it out of committee."
For more on the Blue Dogs, check out Jim's earlier
post.