Debate Continues in the House
July 20, 2009
Concerns over H.R. 3200, “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,” have emerged from centrists in both parties, including the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dogs, Republican senators and representatives, and others. Many of the centrists are concerned that the legislation proposed so far is too expensive, does not sufficiently reduce long-term health care costs, and raises taxes too high. Because of these shared concerns, these groups oppose the current legislation.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) spent time on Wednesday, July 22, negotiating with the Blue Dogs. Waxman noted that Democrats were close to an agreement, but the Blue Dogs offered a different view – asserting that little progress had been made. While the Energy & Commerce Committee’s markup* was delayed again on Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee continued its mark up this week. The House Education and Labor Committee passed H.R. 3200 on July 17.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D-Calif.) stated that the House will go home for August recess without passing H.R. 3200. The House will resume work on health care reform in September.
*Definition of mark up: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.
