House chairmen to cooperate on healthcare

WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- Three U.S. House of Representatives committee chairmen say they will work together to pass healthcare reform advanced by U.S. President Barack Obama.

George Miller of the Education and Labor Committee, Henry Waxman of California of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Charles Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee have written to Obama, saying similar legislation would be brought to each committee, The New York Times reported. Miller and Waxman represent California and Rangel is from New York.

"We intend to work from a single bill and have that bill considered by the House before the August recess," the three powerful Democrats said.

The willingness of the House committees to work together rather than compete against each other is a departure from the 1990s when President Bill Clinton's efforts to provide universal healthcare was undermined by congressional rivalries, the newspaper said.

Analysts said that while such agreements are no guarantee of success, they could speed passage a healthcare reform bill and make it more difficult for lobbyists to scuttle the administration proposals.

White House officials told the Times they are cheered by the House chairmen's cooperation.