House Democrats Uncertain If Health Care Bill Will Reach Conference Committee

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 4:29PM
Justin Duckham in Congress, Frontpage 2, Health Care, Health Care Bill, health care reform, pelosi, van hollen

Leading House Democrats could not confirm Tuesday whether Congress will avoid reconciling the two legislative bodies’ health care reform legislation within a conference committee.

“We don’t even know yet if there’s going to be a conference,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) during a press conference Tuesday. “It’s not clear yet whether or not that’s going to happen.”

It has been rumored in recent days that Congress may seek to hold private negotiations with House and Senate leaders as an alternative to the conference, a possibility that critics charge will eliminate transparency.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) waved away such concerns.

“There has never been a more open process for any legislation in anyone who has served here’s experience,” the Speaker said.

Article originally appeared on Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media (http://www.talkradionews.com/).