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Negotiations over a new bill expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will continue Friday afternoon, Republican and Democratic aides close to the negotiations said.
The talks petered out Thursday evening because House Republicans wanted both sides to put proposals in writing, several Republican lawmakers said, including a statement by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.).
“Republicans want Baucus to put proposals in writing,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said, adding that both sides could compare their suggestions in the morning.
An evening phone call between Baucus and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), however, appears to have put the talks back on track. Both sides seem ready to exchange written proposals of what has been agreed to and what has not.
“They’ll continue to work … negotiators plan to exchange paper to assess what has been agreed to and what is outstanding,” a Democratic aide close to the negotiations said.
The negotiations reached a critical point on Thursday evening, when lawmakers from both parties huddled in the office of House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.).
The core group of negotiators included Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), House Energy and Commerce panel Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.).
“Poor Judy Biggert is in their with the lions — let’s hope she’s a lion too,” said Barton, who was not included in that meeting.
Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Friday morning.
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