Blue Dog Democrats Announce Deal On Health Care Reform

After days of intensive negotiations, the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats have announced a health care reform compromise.

After days of intensive negotiations, a group of key moderate Democrats on Wednesday announced that they reached a health care reform deal with the White House and congressional leaders.

The compromise would cut the cost of the $1 trillion-plus package by $100 billion, according to one member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. The deal would also ensure that the proposed government-run insurance program would not be forced on anyone.

"We have reached an agreement that will allow health care reform to move forward," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark.

Seven Blue Dogs had held up passage of the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee over concerns about cost and the speed at which Democrats were advancing the legislation. The committee is the only House panel that hasn't voted on the bill.

Ross said four of those seven agreed to the compromise Wednesday. But that gives Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., enough votes for passage.

With the announcement, the committee is set to meet Wednesday afternoon for a mark-up of the bill. A mark-up is where lawmakers finalize legislation.

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