Scrambling for votes, Democrats face uphill climb to pass healthcare reform
The Hill
House Democratic leaders don’t have the votes to pass healthcare reform. At least not yet.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has expressed confidence that when push comes to shove, healthcare reform will pass Congress. But there will be plenty of pushing in the days ahead.
Pelosi is clearly down in the vote count. Thirty-four House Democrats are either firm no votes or leaning no, according to The Hill’s whip list. Dozens more are undecided.
The list of Democratic members who haven’t committed ranges widely, from liberal Reps. Michael Capuano (Mass.) and Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) to centrist Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.) and Chris Carney (Pa.).
Two committee chairmen — Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) — say they are firm nos and three others, Reps. John Spratt (D-S.C.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), are undecided.
If every House member votes and all Republicans reject the bill as expected, Pelosi can only afford 37 Democratic defections. That breakdown of the votes would lead to a 216-215 tally.
Of the 34 no votes/leaning no votes, eight of them backed the House-backed bill in November. Meanwhile, nine Democrats who voted no last fall are publicly on the fence.
Wild Thing’s comment………
It is clear that the democrat party has now become a party of tyrants comparable to what the colonists faced from the British Crown. Elected representatives face the tyranny of the democrat leadership. They are pushing an end run to deem the bill passed without voting which is cleary un-Constitutional. We can expect more of this as they use strong arm tactics to pass more intolerable acts to oppress we the people. This bill is not about health care, it is about control, more control over our lives.
While in the grocery store a day ago, I overheard people discussing politics. They were as ticked off as all of us are. When the public is standing around discussing politics in the aisles, there’s big trouble for Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the Dems. GOOD, people are not holding back anymore.
If this does not pass and I pray with all in me that it does not, it will be a wooden steak in the heart for ObamaCare.
Many of these “undecided” Democrats are probably pushing for favors from obama and Pelosi. Almost everone in America is decided on where they stand on obama’s healthcare plan. These “undecideds” are looking for attention.
I keep hearing from democrat pollsters and obamabots that its all the Republicans fault. NO F’n Way. The donks have a majority in both houses and they can’t even manage that. they have completely alienated the American people with their arrogance and the complete lack of faith in the ‘we the people’. This will be their downfall and it is coming. It will be swift and and it will be deadly.
Tom, I bet your right. They want their favors for their States and make the bill go up in cost even more. AUGH!!!!
Mark, love how you put this.
“This will be their downfall and it is coming. It will be swift and and it will be deadly.”