Blue Dogs Stand Firm as Dems Get Panicky

Marathon sessions fail to reach a deal as tempers fray

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 4:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Democratic leadership is scrambling to make progress on health care reform before Congress breaks for its August recess, but last night's marathon negotiations failed to break the stalemate—and may even have increased the number of issues up for debate. "We're making progress," Nancy Pelosi said as she left the Capitol. But talks with Blue Dog Democrats aren't moving anywhere, Politico reports.

Yesterday seven right-leaning Dems held a 3½-hour meeting with Rep. Henry Waxman and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, followed by a late-night huddle with House leaders. In the Senate things are little better; liberal members such as Ohio's Sherrod Brown bashed Democrats for a possible withdrawal of a public insurance option. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said he'd have a finished bill by next week—but as to whether it would have a public option, he wouldn't say.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks at her weekly news conference last Thursday on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to promise that the final Senate health care bill would include a public option. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

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So because we want three Republicans to come along on this, we are going to betray what the American people want? I don’t think so. - Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio

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Blue Dogs Stand Firm as Dems Get Panicky