Ross takes credit for health deal

After reaching agreement on contentious issues plaguing progress on the House health bill Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the leading Blue Dog on healthcare reform, took much of the credit for broking the deal.

The new terms dictate that Members cut $100 billion in spending from the bill and that a floor vote be pushed back to August.

Ross tweeted:

Part of Health Deal – Ross Ensures No Floor Vote on Health Care Bill before September to give Congress time to read bill http://bit.ly/JZUgk

“We were able to slow this process over the next few weeks and make significant improvements that will bring down costs, save rural hospitals, and protect small businesses,” Ross said in the linked release.

The deal between Blue Dogs and House leaders helped break a stalemate on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where negotiations on the bill had broken down. Ross sits on the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.)

Ross said that the deal is “one step in a very long process… [The legislation] a work in process, and one in which I promise to continue to be heavily involved.”