The Hill: House Panel Approves Healthcare Reform Bill 31-28 with 5 Dems voting No

House panel approves healthcare reform bill

By David Shalleck-Klein

Posted: 07/31/09 09:08 PM

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday night approved the Democrats’ healthcare reform bill, setting up a floor vote this fall.

The passage of the legislation came after days of intense negotiations between Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and conservative Democrats as well as liberal Democrats.

In an unusual move before the final vote, Waxman halted the markup to have a closed-door meeting with Democrats on his panel – presumably to make sure he had the votes to pass the bill.

The final vote was 31-28, with five Democrats opposing the measure. Democrats who voted no were Reps. Rick Boucher (Va.), Bart Stupak (Mich.), Jim Matheson (Utah), John Barrow (Ga.) and Charles Melancon (La.). All Republicans rejected the bill.

House leaders had initially wanted to pass a healthcare bill on the floor before the August recess, but had to backtrack after Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee demanded changes.

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