No Formal Conference on Health Care Reform

That’s the word coming from Capitol Hill, where Democratic leaders are wary that Republicans would stall a formal conference, thus delaying passage of the health care reform at the center of President Obama’s domestic agenda. Instead, leaders reportedly will meet informally to merge the House and Senate bills.

CQ explains the advantage of that strategy:

The process of going to conference requires three separate motions in the Senate, all of which can be filibustered and which could significantly delay Democrats’ goal of getting a bill to President Obama by late January or early February.

House leaders have yet to endorse that strategy officially, CQ adds. Still, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, indicated yesterday that the conference negotiations would be informal.