Free Republic

President Obama has invited a small group of fiscally-conscious House Democrats -- known as the "Blue Dogs" -- to the White House Tuesday morning in an effort to win their support for his controversial health care reform package, FOX News has learned. "We're just not there yet," said Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., one of the lawmakers invited to the session with Mr. Obama. "We're getting there." When asked what the main concern was, Hill responded, "Time." Hill is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a key panel struggling to approve a health reform bill. Many conservative Democrats...

President Obama’s plan for a government takeover of health care is in trouble. Obama ordered up a prime-time last push on Wednesday from his media accomplices, and today will be a big day for them to be ganging up on opponents. Mostly, the targets are Democrats in the House and Senate who are rejecting his so-called public option. Obama has invited a number of wavering Dems to the White House today, planning on arm-twisting sessions aimed at getting their support for the gargantuan -- and unread -- plan to take over the health care of all Americans and add another...

Cap and Trade has stalled in the Senate, and limped out of the House by only a seven-vote margin. Universal Healthcare may not even make it out of committee in Congress. The stimulus package was held up for days, and cut by billions of dollars thanks to moderate Republicans and Democrats. On this information alone, one could say that the Republicans have been doing a good job at stalling the Obama agenda…except for the fact that it’s Conservative Democrats – otherwise known as Blue Dogs– that have been stopping, or at the very least delaying, the President’s agenda. It is...

The House Energy and Commerce Committee cancelled a scheduled "mark up" today. A key House committee on Tuesday indefinitely postponed voting on health care reform legislation, after Democratic leaders were unable to line up enough votes from moderate members of their own party.

We need a Do Not Resuscitate order for the flailing Democrats’ health care takeover plan. It’s Code Blue and Team Obama is in panic mode. Certain sign of desperation: Summoning the nutroots to help. And another from Mark Knoller, who reports that the White House has moved up Obama’s health care statement today to 12:15pm in the Rose Garden. And now this from Reuters: The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee has canceled its Tuesday debate and vote on healthcare legislation but has kept a Wednesday meeting on its schedule.Good. This will give Obama time to study the plan...

With liberal Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, the self-styled moderate-to-conservative Blue Dog Democrats have the power to curtail the excesses of the Obama-Reid-Pelosi agenda. Here is a list of these 50 Democrats and their direct phone numbers and e-mail addresses so voters can contact them about pending healthcare legislation, for detailed information read this. Blue Dog Leadership Team Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration Tel: 202-225-2801 Email: http://hersethsandlin.house.gov/contact2.htm Rep. Baron Hill (Ind.-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy Tel: 202-225-5315 Email: http://baronhill.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtml Rep. Charlie Melancon (La.-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications Tel: 202-225-4031 Email:http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=...

Here is video of GOP Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana talking about what he calls "an interesting development" in the Health Care battle. He says "Blue Dog" Democrats - more conservative Dems - are beginning to talk with House Republicans about working together to come up with a Health Reform Plan not as radical as what Obama is proposing. This could signal that Obama is really losing steam on his health care bill in the House. If "Blue Dog" Democrats abandon him, it will mean they don't think they can win reelection in 2010 on his agenda. . . ....

The president has proclaimed that no one should doubt he and his allies and their ability to produce sweeping health care reform. Certainly, the president must put on that public face. Furthermore, the president is supremely confident and so I don't doubt that he believes that he will be able to pull this off. In reality, there continues to be more and more roadblocks. The most recent setback is this poll by WAPO showing the president's approval on health care slipping below 50%.

Rep. Ross: 'Blue Dogs' Can't Back Health Care BillsListen Now [5 min 28 sec] All Things Considered, July 18, 2009 · As President Obama's health plan hits resistance in Congress, the key may be the "Blue Dog" Democrats in the House. Guy Raz speaks with one of the leading Blue Dogs, Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas, about his recent statement: "We cannot support the current bill." Ross said the Blue Dogs' health care task force would need to see more protections for small businesses and rural health care providers before he could sign on.

Three of the five Congressional committees working on legislation to reinvent the nation’s health care system delivered bills this week along the lines proposed by President Obama. But instead of celebrating their success, many Democrats were apprehensive, nervous and defensive. Even as Democratic leaders and the White House insisted that the nation was closer than ever to landmark changes in the health care system, they faced basic questions about whether some of their proposals might do more harm than good. And while senior Democrats vowed to press ahead to meet Mr. Obama’s deadline of having both chambers pass bills before...

Twenty-one freshman Democratic House members have signed a letter opposing their leadership's plan to raise taxes to finance a healthcare overhaul. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) circulated the letter, saying that the income surtax on the wealthy would place an undue burden on small businesses, some of which pay taxes in the same way as an individual. The letter had 22 signers, all freshmen except for Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.), who is in his second term. “Especially in a recession, we need to make sure not to kill the goose that will lay the golden eggs of our recovery,” the letter...

Obama is set to give a speech at 3:15 on healthcare, as fears mount that the bill may already be dead. Yesterday's (not too shocking) revelation from the CBO, that the bill would end up costing the government, not saving it money, seems to have really demoralized dems, who had been arguing that fiscal prudence and expanded coverage could go hand in hand. Then today, Rasmussen came out with a poll suggesting that the majority of the public opposed the creation of a public plan. Remember, Obama's job is to convinced Democrats the new scheme is a good one. They...

Arkansas blue dogs: No timetable for health care reform legislationBy John Lyon / Arkansas News Bureau Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:22 PM CDT LITTLE ROCK — Two members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation who helped put the breaks on legislation to reform the nation’s health care system said Friday they don’t believe the reform effort should follow a timetable. U.S. Reps. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, and Marion Berry, D-Gillett, were among 40 members of the Blue Dog Coalition of centrist Democrats who wrote to Democrat Party leaders Thursday demanding changes in health care legislation the leadership was drafting. Party leaders had said...

ObamaCare It's not an Option PAGE 16 Line 16 A Tax /fine to Employers not participating of $100 each day,PAGE 148 LINE 17 as well as another (not clearly explained excise tax.) PAGE 151 LINE 3 As well as no REAL DEFINITION of what numerical amount equates what a "Small business" is, being possibly exempt from fines and taxes. PAGE 151 LINE 23 Call and tell them-Phone numbers Listed-CLICK HERE (especially those listed in the Bluedogs column) to Vote No For Government takeover over of health care!

BLUE DOG DEMS CAN KILL OBAMA HEALTH CARE REFORM There are EIGHT "Blue Dog Democrats" who sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee. If these eight Democrats do not support the legislation, passage would likely not succeed. It is CRITICAL to contact them TODAY and make your voice heard. John Barrow (GA-12) p: (202) 225-2823, f: (202) 225-3377, email. Bart Gordon (TN-06) p: (202) 225-4231, f: (202) 225-6887, email. Baron Hill (IN-09) p: (202) 225-5315, f: (202) 226-6866, email. Jane Harman (CA-36) p: (202) 225-8220, f: (202) 226-7290, email. Jim Matheson (UT-02) p: (202) 225-3011, f: (202) 225-5638, email. Charlie...

Centrist Democrats are threatening to oppose their party’s healthcare legislation unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accepts changes that make the bill more to their liking. Seven Blue Dogs on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have banded together to draft amendments that they’ll co-sponsor in the committee markup, which starts Thursday. Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the Blue Dogs’ point man on healthcare, says if those changes aren’t accepted, they’ll vote down the bill. “We cannot support the current bill,” Ross said. “Last time I checked, it took seven Democrats to stop a bill in Energy and Commerce.” Ross knows...

DON'T FALL FOR THE BLUE DOG & PONY SHOW There are no Blue Dog democrats. There are democrats who occasionally vote with the GOP out of fear of losing their seat in Congress but there are NO Blue Dog democrats. If push comes to shove so-called Blue Dogs always vote with the democrats Today the state-run media is reporting that the so-called Blue Dog democrats are threatening to bring down Obamacare. The Hill reported: Centrist Democrats are threatening to oppose their party’s healthcare legislation unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accepts changes that make the bill more to their liking....

By Martin Vaughan, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of fiscally conservative House Democrats, said Wednesday a House plan to overhaul the U.S. health-care system is losing support and will be stuck in committee without changes. "Last time I checked, it takes seven Democrats to stop a bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee," Ross told reporters after a House vote. "We had seven against it last Friday; we have 10 today."

Blue Dog: 'No way' House bill could pass By: Patrick O'Connor July 16, 2009 01:58 PM EST Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, a key negotiator on health care for moderate Blue Dog Democrats, has warned that "there's no way they can pass the current bill on the House floor. Not even close." Ross doesn't believe the bill unveiled Tuesday comes close to curtailing the ever-escalating costs of health care spending, particularly for Medicare. The conservative Arkansas Democrat also objects to the surtaxes included in the bill, saying, "I don't like the idea of raising taxes in the worst economic crisis since...

When this health care debate is over, we are going to know if our Congress is Democratic or Conservative. The irony of the Democrats' majorities is that ideologically they have no majorities. The Blue Dog Democrats are often more Conservative than many Republicans. They have to be because their districts vote in a manner that would never accept anything but a conservative voting record. Many of the Blue Dogs got into office in 2006. They were recruited by the liberal, now Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel in one of the shrewdest political move in history. The Blue Dogs attacked most...