Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

While some Republicans are still fuming over the passage of health care reform weeks ago, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a key player in the health care debate, said Tuesday that the GOP could have steered the bill toward more conservative principles if they had come to the table instead of working solely to defeat the legislation.

“We could have engaged in the discussion on how to modify it and how to change it, but that’s not what they wanted to do,” said Waxman during a forum held by Atlantic Magazine.

Waxman compared the effort from conservatives to derail health care reform to President Bill Clinton’s attempt to overhaul the health care system during the early days of his administration.

“Their objective was to repeat 1994 ... defeat the bill, then get the Republican party in power,” said Waxman.

Waxman, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, brushed away concerns that the passage of the bill could hurt Democrats in November.

“Victory breeds more victory," said Waxman. "We are not going to lose control in the fall."

Added the 18 term Congressman, “We would if we had failed.”