Waxman Offers Secret Health Deal to Blue Dogs

Rep. Henry Waxman is optimistic he can get a health care bill out of his committee after pitching Blue Dog Democrats a compromise late last night, the Hill reports. After three hours of negotiations, the Dogs asked Waxman to get a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office before they commit. “I feel very good right now,” said Waxman. “I don’t think failure is a reasonable option.”

The seven members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs will meet with the rest of the 52-member caucus to discuss the proposal. Earlier in the day, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer had said it “clearly will not be possible” to vote before Friday’s recess, because lawmakers won’t have time to read the bill. (More health care stories.)