Obamacare in the House: Do the Blue Dogs have any bite?
“Centrist” Democrats in the House say they oppose the government health care takeover plans of their leaders and their president.
They’re barking loudly, demanding major amendments to protect small businesses and taxpayers.
But do the Blue Dogs have any bite? Or will they be bought off like many of them were on cap-and-trade and Porkulus One?
The Hill reports:
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 of three additional Democrats on the committee who won’t support the bill in its current form, creating a base of 10 Democratic opponents. The committee has 59 members: 23 Republicans and 36 Democrats.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said he’s aware of the centrists’ concerns and is prepared to make changes even before the committee starts voting.
“Can a bunch of members bring a bill down? Sure,” Waxman said. “What we need to do is work together to pass a bill.”
Translation: Twist arms, cut deals, and buy off.
