House healthcare talks break down in anger

The Hill ^ | 7/24/2009 | Jared Allen

[KansasGirl]

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...

snip

"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.

[momto6]

If you don’t mind, what are the numbers after the state abbreviation? Pomeroy is listed in Wiki but has an AL after instead of a number what does that mean? I am still learning I guess.

[Mariner]

Holy Cow!

This is GYNORMOUS!

This says the Bill cannot pass a floor vote.

Blue Dogs swaying they were lied to.

Just how many dims do you think will vote for this POS? I say none. It WILL NOT go to the floor.

Waterloo.

[Roccus]

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday.

Gee whiz Chuck, you sound annoyed that another politician lied to you. But yeah, I guess it's worse when politicians lie to each other instead of just to the American people.

[The Pack Knight]

I honestly don’t give Pelosi that much credit when it comes to being an effective House leader. I don’t think she has the wherewithal to keep her party in line in these circumstances.

[edpc]

Yeah, I’m having a hard time generating sympathy for him.

[Lucky9teen]

“We are trying to save this bill and trying to save this party.”

---

Good luck with that. You’ve got a very hard and long road ahead to accomplish that task, if it’s even possible.

[CitizenM]

My oh my, would I love to be a fly on the wall in the Oval office and hear Obama's reaction to this. I am sure he blew his "cool." I can imagine him close to a crisis because his ego can't tolerate anyone not approving of what he wants - especially a Democrat.

Obama has one hand trying to fan down the heat in pot over the Gates situation, and the other now has to stir up more heat and support for his health care bill. It is too much for him to be so busy. He can't deal with controversy and watching his approval ratings falling because of both issues. He is way "over his paygrade." Call in the therapists!

[Man50D]

Keep calling!!

I started calling all 52 Monday and finished earlier today.

[Man50D]

There will be time for calm relaxation AFTER Obamacare is dead and gone.

Don't forget Cap and Tax.

[Bokababe]

The Wiki entry on Blue Dog Democrats is actually pretty interesting and gives a list of all of them in Congress, as well as a history of where they came from.

The Left Wing Democrats hate Blue Dogs and regard them as traitors to the Party because they are actually "for fiscal responsibility". Can you imagine? A Democrat for fiscal responsibility? ;)

[Man50D]

IF republicans stick together, which is no guarantee, since there are rinos loose in the land.

So are we.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

ObamaCare won’t be going away, but every delay exposes more of the horrors of government-run healthcare to the public and weakens the ultimate chances of passage.

Although the Dems in congress are doing their damndest to prevent the folks from hearing the truth:

GOP Not Allowed to Say 'Government-Run Healthcare' ( Obamacare Censorship )

A symptom of desperation? Maybe I'm too optimistic, but that could backfire on them.

[dervish]

If you can’t get thru on DC number, here are Charlie Melancon’s other numbers:

Fax: (202) 226-3944

Houma
423 Lafayette St, Ste. 107
Houma, LA 70360

Phone: 985.876.3033
Fax: 985.872.4449
Gonzales
1201 S. Purpera Ave. Ste. 601
Gonzales, LA 70737

Phone: 225.621.8490
Fax: 225.621.8493

Chalmette
8201 W. Judge Perez Dr.
Chalmette, LA 70043

Phone: 504.271.1707
Fax: 504.271.1756
New Iberia
124 East Main Street
Suite 100
New Iberia, LA 70560

Phone: 337.367.8231
Fax: 337.369.7084

http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191&Itemid=52

[sourcery]

There will be time for calm relaxation AFTER Obamacare is dead and gone.

This monster will be resurrected repeatedly, until it either passes, or its proponents lose power.

[ConservativeMind]

Democrats lying to Democrats. LOL!

This will surely help bring in conservatives the next round of elections.

[Diogenesis]

[Waryone]

How I wish the Hammer was still in the House.

[Califelephant]

Henry Waxman - King of Fraud
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Henry-Waxman-—fraud-king-8011982-51515927.html
(Newt Gingrich article)

[pburgh01]

This monster will be resurrected repeatedly, until it either passes, or its proponents lose power.

I am starting think some grand Machiavellian plan at work here to sacrifice Pelosi to the ObamaGod. The blogosphere is humming today rumors of her ouster and makes sense to me. Get rid of her, claim she was too divisive and leak rumors of corruption to ruin her. Get a new Speaker, bolster a sagging party image, claim a new tone and get this monstrosity passed with some minor mods.

[Marysecretary]

I still think there are loose FBI files in someone’s closet in the WH.