House panel approves health bill (Waxman committee)

Associated Press ^ | July 31, 2009 | David Espo & Erica Werner

[St. Louis Conservative]

WASHINGTON — Democrats have pushed sweeping health care legislation through a key congressional committee, clearing the way for a September showdown on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The 31-28 vote Friday came after majority Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to a last-minute series of changes including limiting how much health insurance companies can raise premiums.

The changes were made to placate liberal Democrats — who rebelled after a deal was struck earlier in the week with conservative Democrats.

Energy and Commerce was the last of three House committees to act on the health bill. The vote came on the last day of the House's session before its annual summer recess, sending Democrats home with some momentum on health care.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a bruising struggle, Democrats pushed sweeping health care legislation to the brink of passage in a key congressional committee on Friday, clearing the way for a September showdown in the House on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

As part of a last-minute series of changes, the Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to limit increases in the cost of insurance sold under the bill, and also to give the federal government authority to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices under Medicare.

The new provisions were part of an intensive effort Democrats have made in recent days to satisfy the conflicting demands of liberals and conservatives on the panel. "We have agreed we need to pull together," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee chairman.

The measure is designed to extend health insurance to millions who now lack it, at the same time it strives to slow the growth in medical costs nationwid.

[EGPWS]

pig face committee

Phantom face committee.

[EGPWS]

Hello third world, please to meet you.

Can we merge and change our name to one now?

[EGPWS]

Close but not blood curdling or shocking enough to pass. ; )

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"what an ugly SOB!"

He's the only public figure with his own emoticon:

:8)

[manc]

appreciate the info
thank you so much and if I dont speak to you this weekend then have a nice weekend

[melt]

Note the sneaky timing. Friday night when they think no one is watching.

BTW---is "tarring & feathering" covered by their platinum Congressional Health Insurance plan?

[pctech]

I want to see this health care plan they have drawn up, all of it, all 1400 pages. Then we need to break it out into manageable pieces for people to scrutinize and go over. Then the American population needs to be made aware of it. Anyone know where I can find this piece of trash?

[Repeal 16-17]

If this bill became law, when would it take effect? My thought is that if the midterm election result in a Republican majority in both Houses of the Congress, ObamaCare could be repealed before it begins.

[Repeal 16-17]

Things are heading to a boiling point. Its the states, the individual citizens, the insurance companies and the medical profession against a Bolshevik oligarchy in Washington, hell bent on a takeover of the United States. Prepare yourselves. As Ike Clanton said in Tombstone, “You got a fight coming.”

God, I hope you're right. May this great land not go quietly into that good night.

[MadisonChristian]

Actually I just heard a bit on the radio where some representative was asked if he would use the public option and he said yes then went on to say the congressional health insurance plan will be in these exchanges they set up so anyone can buy into it and a congress person will be able to buy any insurance from the exchange if they want including the public option. Of course they have their premiums fully paid for by the government unlike us so fat chance someone like you or me could afford their plan. Did anyone else hear that interview? It was a Madison radio station but I dont know which one because I was in my daughters car and Im wondering who the representative was. I just dont believe that any of them will volunteer to use their public option though supposedly a bunch of the liberals are actually claiming they will.

[sanjoaquinvalley]

I've talked about this to just about everyone I know and most of them are not aware of what is in this bill.They are still getting their info from MSM. They really think they are getting free unlimited gold plated healthcare. They don't know they are losing the ability to control their health care, their insurance, about the rationing. Most elderly people think they'll have better healthcare. The people who live next door to me are both elderly.The wife has diabetes, the husband has leukemia and has been able to keep it under control for several years, with a twice yearly round of chemo.Their kids are in their early thirties and both handicapped.The girl has severe autism and the boy is in a wheel chair with crippled legs and some kind of condition that has caused half his face to grow to giant size.I've tried to tell the mother about this bill and she's just certain that as she calls him “Mr.Barack Obama” would never do that. She thinks they'll be getting something.She doesn't understand that if this passes their whole family will be rationed out of existence.

[Shady]

Welcome to Nazism. Our own version of Concentration Camps.
Pure Evil personified and codified.

[Shady]

They will and are excluding themselves from being thrown into the Concentration Camps.

[Shady]

See two posts above. See?

[lakey]

"We have agreed we need to pull together," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee chairman.

pig face committee

You hit that on the nail!

Which brings to mind, what about plastic surgeons - they won't take kindly to making less money.

No one in Congress has earned the right to better medical and benefit perks than their constituents. They are our servants and do not deserve to be called "Honorable," for they have proven themselves to be the lowest forms of humanity.

[NRA2BFree]

You can press Henry Waxman’s face into dough and make gorilla cookies.

He'd make better Mr. Potato Head cookies. LOL!

[NRA2BFree]

[Chode]

[sonic109]

Do you think we should write to Dodd and tell him his cancer treatment will be too expensive for TAXPAYERS and he should think about that “end of life” thing?
How much you want to bet I do it ?
This is war ..Anyone on here who does NOT call ( not email ) their representatives should be kick off of FR.
CALL damn it..call often ..bust balls..