Hillarysworld

The promise was made after Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) agreed to withdraw a proposed amendment to create a universal Medicare system for the entire nation.

According to the New York Daily News, “The Brooklyn-Queens Rep. looked a little surprised when Chairman Henry Waxman said Pelosi would allow that vote, and made Waxman repeat the deal to be sure it was clear and on the record. It’s an especially big deal for advocates of a single health care system — who see it as cheaper and simpler than the complicated measure being drawn up — because they have been complaining that they have not even been able to get an airing of their position.”

The development came as the House Energy and Commerce Committee was meeting to finalize its own version of health care legislation, which passed by a vote of 31-28, with five Democratic members of the committee and all Republicans opposed.

As reported by the Associated Press, “the committee agreed to cap increases in the cost of insurance sold under the bill, and also to give the federal government authority to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices under Medicare.”

The Senate, meanwhile, is moving far more slowly, with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) having recently accepted a deadline of September 15 to negotiate a bill that might have a chance of gaining some Republican support. The full House is expected to have voted on its own version of health care legislation by then.