Pelosi: Robust Public Option Is Not Dead

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced reports that said she did not have enough votes for a “robust” public option Friday, saying the vote count has not been finalized and that any speculation about it is premature.

Pelosi’s comments came in response to an article published by Politico Friday morning in which Mike Allen reported that the Speaker had counted the votes and come up short on votes for a plan that included the plan.

“By no means is the count complete or has any decision been made,” Pelosi said in response during a press conference Friday.

The speaker did say that a robust public option is not the only way the bill could go and that conversations about the public option have begun to include discussions of a weaker version.

“At the end of the day we will have a public option in our legislation,” Pelosi said.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that there has not been a count as to which version of the public option will be in the bill, but noted that developments in the Senate to possibly include a public option has given the House more flexibility.

“We are trying to inform our members of what we are trying to do, and we are trying to find out which one of these approaches will best suit the most people,” Clyburn said.

Health Care Reform Will Survive Summer Recess, Says House Democratic Leadership

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

Congress' upcoming August recess will not significantly stall health care reform, the House Democratic Leadership promised Friday.

Speaking at a press conference to review the 111th congresses legislative achievements, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said that during the August recess "there will be a positive drumbeat across America" from members of congress "to dispell the myths being put out there" about the proposed health care bill. Pelosi said that this disinformation was not only coming from Republican opposition but also the health insurance industry, which she described as the "biggest opponents" to reform.

"This is a shock and awe carpet bombing by the health insurance industry to perpetuate the status quo" the Speaker said. "Make no mistake, facts mean nothing to them, mythology is their game, misrepresentation is the currency of the realm and we intend to set the record straight."

Pelosi said she confident that the American people would be able to see through the Republicans' message and support health care reform.

"I am so confident in the wisdom of the American people and the fairness of the press that our message will come through."

Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Xavier Becerra (D-Calif). credited the achievements of the 111th Congress to President Obama's leadership.

"When we get to the point where we can say we have energy policy that changes America, when we have health care policy that changes American and when we get Americans back to work, it will be because under the President's instruction. This House of Representatives has been active and engaged," he said. "We are a 'do a lot' Congress."

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that Congress' most significant achievement, the passage of health care reform, was yet to come. Clyburn added that the health reform message would not falter over the recess.

"As we leave, 256 of us will go out to tour communities and we will be talking to our constituents about what this bill mean to them," Clyburn said. "I believe that when we come back this September, this congress will be prepared to make history."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D- MD) praised the achievements of the Congress but warned that the U.S was still not "where we want to be."

"As long as as there is a single foreclosure, as long as we are not getting loans made as quickly as possible, as long as people can not sell homes when they want to sell them or buy them when they want to buy them, we havn't gotten to where we want to be. But we have made very substantial progress," said the Leader.

House Majority Whip Rebukes Waxman’s Proposal To Speed Up Health Care Vote

By Justin Duckham

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) does not appear to be moved by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman’s (D-Calif.) proposal to bypass his Committee’s process in order to bring health care reform legislation to the House floor sooner.

“I have said from day one that I would love to see us follow regular order,” Clyburn said during a press conference Friday, referencing the jurisdiction Waxman’s committee would typically have in the legislation’s formation. “I want us to follow the regular order and I am hoping that is what we will do here. I always advocate and support the regular order.”

Waxman posed the possibility Friday morning in response to continuing disagreements between his Committee’s fiscally conscious Blue Dog Democrats and other Democratic members of the Committee. According to Waxman, the Blue Dogs threatened to side with the Republican members, thus putting the Committee in minority control.

In recent weeks pro-life, blue dog, and progressive Democrats have threatened to oppose the Affordable Health Choices Act if it does not meet their respective requirements. Clyburn, who will ultimately be responsible for rallying the votes, dismissed his party’s infighting, noting that he expected passing health care reform to be “tough”.

“I recognize that we have seven distinct caucuses,” said Clyburn. “We will have these kind of passions being on display on a daily basis.”

While Clyburn could not say when the bill would be brought to the floor, he did stress his desire to see widespread support for the final draft of the bill.

“If we had the votes to pass this bill on Monday morning without consensus, I would much rather wait till the following Monday if I could yield consensus in the process.”