HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, passed through its final House committee Friday as it gained approval from Congressman Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) Energy and Commerce Committee. Democratic proponents squeaked a 31-28 victory just before the gavel fell to close Congress for its August recess.

Just days before, Congressman Waxman called off negotiations in his committee indefinitely, due to the inability of liberal Democrats to strike compromises with the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Democrats, who cited severe concerns with the context of the bill. Congressman Waxman and his liberal colleagues seemed to have struck deals with opponents of the legislation, surprising many conservatives who felt a bit of consolation by the letter signed by 40 Democrats that expressed their disapproval of the bill in its current form. According to Bloomberg.com,

 

“Waxman spent days negotiating a compromise on the broader legislation after a group of seven Democrats on the panel objected to the cost and structure of the measure. He and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally struck a deal with some of the lawmakers, who are also members of the coalition of self- described fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats, on July 29.

That agreement reduced the number of people eligible for subsidies to purchase insurance, which the legislation mandates all Americans must have. Small businesses with annual payrolls of less than $500,000 would also be exempt from the mandate that companies provide workers with insurance or pay a fine.

Republicans expressed displeasure with the legislation. “I’m very, very disappointed; there is still a federally run plan,” said Representative Mike Rogersof Michigan.

Referring to the Waxman-led negotiations, he said, “The only thing that happened is that you allowed the Blue Dogs to pick the color of the lipstick going on this pig.”

After making the bargain with the Blue Dog members, Waxman and Pelosi faced another rebellion from Democrats. Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus were unhappy about agreed- upon cuts in subsidies for lower-income Americans and the requirement that the government-run insurer negotiate with providers.”

 

Some conservative strategists were alerted of the attempt to push HR 3200 through committee by Friday, July 31, when recess was slated to begin, explaining that they anticipated Congressman Waxman would attempt to get the bill passed through committee before they returned home to their districts for the month of August. This means HR 3200 will be up for a floor vote upon their return in September.

One GOP Hill staffer was not surprised by the efforts by liberal Representatives. He asserted that Congressman Waxman’s maneuvering was not simply reactionary but, instead, deliberate.

“Waxman called off the talks initially to convince the American people that things were stagnant until September,” he explained. “Then, he quickly forced something through, thinking people were going to lose interest in showing their disapproval of the bill.

Waxman knows that this is an unpopular piece of legislation and that if Americans were aware of what’s in this thing, they’re not going to be happy with it. August recess is going to be an important time for citizens to stay engaged in what’s going on with health care reform and stay just as vocal about their concerns.”

Indeed, HR 3200’s passage from the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee went almost unpublicized by the mainstream media. Americans did get some coverage, however,  and those who delivered it were not shy about their opinions.

Take, for instance, Bloomberg, who made their personal perspectives, despite their status a news source, abundantly clear for readers:

Legislation to overhaul the U.S. health-care system cleared its final House committee, setting up a September floor vote on a measure that may curb the profits of insurers and drugmakers and would extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans.

FOX News commentator Neil Cavuto offered another viewpoint, publishing an article, “The Sheer Arrogance of Rep. Waxman,” highlighting Congressman Waxman’s refusal to include a provision in the bill that would mandate that elected officials enroll in the public option. 

He’s not leaving his very nice congressional health plan, is he? He’s not bolting from a plan that gives him plenty of options and pretty much covers all those options, is he? No, he wants to stick with his. I can’t blame him.

And he wants to stick this thing with us. For that I do blame him.

Meanwhile, in the other chamber of Congress, members of the Senate dealt with the harsh reality of their inability to get anything passed through Sen. Max Baucus’s (D-MT) Committee on Finance. Sen. Baucus, who claimed time and time again that he was on the verge of getting legislation out of his committee, now must admit, just as Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) did, that they will be unable to bring a bill to the floor before recess and thus, fail to meet President Obama’s deadline.