All parties to the talks stuck to the same mantra as they emerged from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office: "We're making progress.""We're continuing to talk," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyrer told reporters, adding "I think everybody wants to get a little bit of shut-eye."
The conservative Blue Dogs argue that the health care bill will cost too much without fixing the ailing health care system.Pelosi, whose voice appeared hoarse, left her office, saying "We're still working, still talking, making good progress."
Rep. Mike Ross, D-Arkansas, one of the leading Blue Dogs negotiating with House leaders and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-California, told reporters there is no deal.
"All I can tell you is we continue to talk. I'd like to think that we're making progress. We expect the talks will continue tomorrow," he said.Ross declined to answer any questions about which specific issues were on the table or how leaders were responding to their suggested changes.
Meanwhile, on the Senate side, six members of the Finance Committee -- three Democrats and three Republicans -- continued grueling negotiations on a compromise plan that would be the first bipartisan proposal so far.
In the fall the great health care battle will be joined and the President will no longer be able to dodge the issue. At stake, a bi-partisan piece of legislation or the radical shift dear to the lefts heart. Interestingly enough Reid has signaled he would compromise on what type of legislation might see the Senate floor:
Asked Tuesday about the plan, Reid said he had to be pragmatic about a bill's chances for success."I have a responsibility to get a bill on the Senate floor that will get 60 votes, so we can proceed to it," Reid said. "That's my No. 1 responsibility, and there are times when I have to set aside my personal preferences for the good of the Senate and, I think, the country."
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