Waxman getting tough on 'blue dog' dems on health care

[WI_DEM]

Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) says there is "no alternative" but to have healthcare legislation bypass his Energy and Commerce Committee if Blue Dog Democrats don't accept a deal worked out Friday.

Waxman is now playing a game of legislative chicken with the Blue Dogs. He's hoping the inclusion of a study on Medicare reimbursement rates in the healthcare overhaul will be enough to placate the centrist Democrats, who say the government program short-changes hospitals and physicians in their rural districts.



If that’s not, the seven Blue Dogs could join with the committee's Republicans to "eviscerate" healthcare reform, and that’s something Waxman will not tolerate.

"I won't allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans," Waxman told reporters.

"I don’t see what other alternative we have, because we're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee."

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/waxman-blue-dogs-must-relent-on-health-reform-2009-07-24.html

[redqueen]

1. Thank you, Waxman!

K&R

[williesgirl]

2. Thank you Waxman. We need to primary every fucking Blue Dog next chance we get. And I'm serious.

rec'd

[cascadiance]

3. We need a list of Blue Dork names!

So that we can start making "UnWanted" posters or the like!

[omega minimo]

8. Good idea! You get to do it!!!

:bounce:

[philly_bob]

9. Blue Dog hunting season! n/t

[BlueJac]

4. Waxman kicked Rove's ass too.........

these people just talk big and do very little....

I would like to see action just one time, ONE TIME!

[Hepburn]

5. Good...it's about time someone kicked some ass on this. n/t

[mzmolly]

6. KnR

[omega minimo]

7. Rec +9 Let's vote this up and give Sen. Waxman a rousing THANK YOU from DU

Flowers?

[omega minimo]

10. Isn't this an update? There's two older threads higher up on Greatest.....

:shrug:

[BlueIdaho]

11. The best thing to do is to make them irrelevant.

Take them out of the loop - take away their power - put them in charge of cleaning the lunch trays in the cafeteria.