Sources: Pelosi, Dems lock up 218

Hours before an expected vote on a sweeping health care bill, House Democrats believe they’ve secured the 218 votes they need to approve the bill, several party insiders said.

Thirty-two Democrats have publicly declared their opposition to the bill, giving party leaders the narrowest possible margin to push the bill across the finish line. But numerous sources said Democrats believe they do have the votes after a day of intense lobbying of wavering Democrats

Votes have a tendency to shift in the final hours before a controversial vote, but party leaders were expressing more genuine confidence as the sun set over the Capitol than they had exhibited all week. Word started spreading around 5 p.m. that leaders had the votes they needed to pass the $1.2 trillion bill.

But she and her top lieutenants earlier stopped short of saying they had the 218 votes needed for passage – signaling a day of vote-wrangling and arm-twisting that could stretch into Saturday night.

And Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami declined to comment. “We are not commenting on whip counts,” Elshami said. 

Nancy Pelosi is still dealing as vote nears

The fate of the bill itself rests on the shoulders of a new generation of Democrats whose young careers will be defined, in part, by the votes they cast Saturday — votes sure to be used against many of them in 2010.

Freshmen Reps. Jared Polis of Colorado and Gerry Connolly of Virginia, for instance, organized their fellow freshmen to ask the speaker to raise the income threshold for the so-called “millionaire’s tax” to ensure small business owners wouldn’t bear the burden for reform.

Added Andrews: “Every member was given real input into the bill. This is pretty rare. Normally, the chairman writes the bill, and the whip goes out and gets the votes.”

But Pelosi’s not there yet, as she acknowledged Thursday — saying she’ll have the 218 votes by the time she needs them. Last-minute flare-ups on abortion and immigration Thursday threatened to complicate the bill — but at this point didn’t seem enough to derail it.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus fought back against reports that leaders would add Senate language to block illegal immigrants from participating in the insurance exchange. New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez, the chairwoman of CHC, said they told the president during a White House meeting Thursday afternoon that the caucus has 20 votes for the current immigration language and would oppose the verification requirements in the Senate bill. Obama was receptive to their concerns, she said

And a small group of anti-abortion Democrats, led by Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth, continued haggling over the final language to ensure federal funds can’t be used to pay for abortions under programs created by the bill.

The speaker won support for the bill Thursday when AARP and the American Medical Association both announced they were backing the House bill.

Their support proved important enough for President Barack Obama to make a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room to tell Congress that it ought to heed the two powerful lobbies.

Obama himself will come to Capitol Hill on Friday to make a personal pitch to House Democrats. The president’s audience includes first-year Democrats from often-overlooked parts of the country who came to Congress on Obama’s coattails, like Reps. John Boccieri from northeast Ohio, Kathleen Dahlkemper from northwest Pennsylvania and Thomas Perriello from Virginia’s Southside. Their votes are critical to his success, just like his voters were critical to theirs.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29214_Page2.html

The Democrats’ $1.5 Trillion Fraud

“The current leadership has rigged the legislation so that 60 percent of its total cost will not be made public by the CBO in advance of the House vote,” reveals Cato director of health policy Michael F. Cannon. In an article at National Review Online, Cannon explains how they did it and provides an estimate of the hidden costs.

Call your Representative to tell them to vote NO for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Supporting: 187 Opposing: 203 Position Unknown: 46

Current Positions

http://call.seiu.org/9/HouseHealthReform/totals?

SEIU is keeping track too.  Hmmmm…… they see it dying I hope it does this is not good for America!  KILL THE BILL!!

UPDATED: Whip count on health bill

Below is a list of selected Democrats and their positions on the House healthcare reform bill based on media accounts, press releases and spokesmen for the lawmakers.

_{UPDATED 11/7/09 3:42 p.m.}

YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Jim Cooper (Tenn.)
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
John Garamendi (Calif.) Was sworn in this week
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Firm yes; Hodes running for Senate
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Bill Owens (N.Y.) Was sworn in this week
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.) Missed votes this week due to illness but will register yes on health bill
Rep. Joe Sestak (Pa.) Firm yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)

NO OR LEANING NO
John Adler (N.J.) A firm no, saying bill doesn’t do enough to control health costs.
Jason Altmire (Pa.)
Brian Baird (Wash.) Believes leadership should allow more GOP amendments
John Boccieri (Ohio) Leaning no, citing cost-containment concerns
Dan Boren (Okla.) A firm no
Allen Boyd (Fla.) “It simply falls short when it comes to lowering healthcare costs.”
Bobby Bright (Ala.)
Travis Childers (Miss.) “We need to get this legislation right, not just get it fast”
Jim Costa (Calif.)
Artur Davis (Ala.) Gubernatorial candidate says, “We risk a disaster if we get this wrong.”
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
Parker Griffith (Ala.) “I cannot support this bill.”
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Science panel chairman is a no, citing public option and bill’s “financial impact on the state of Tennessee.”
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.) “It does not include sufficient cost-containment and deficit reduction measures.”
Larry Kissell (N.C.) Firm no
Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.)”As the bill stands right now, I am not going to be able to support it,” Kosmas told the Orlando Sentinel.
Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) Firm no
Jim Marshall (Ga.) A firm no
Eric Massa (N.Y.) Announced his opposition on Friday night
Jim Matheson (Utah)
Mike McMahon (NY) New York Daily News reported Friday evening he is planning to vote no.
Charlie Melancon (D-La.) No; Melancon running for Senate
Walt Minnick (Idaho) Has bucked leadership on big-ticket bills
Glenn Nye (Va.)

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin D-SD  Unfortunately, the House bill misses a critical opportunity to address access, quality and costs on the one hand, and solidify our fiscal future on the other hand

Ike Skelton (Mo.) Ag chairman cites public option, concerns about rural providers
Bart Stupak (Mich.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
John Tanner (Tenn.) “I am unable to support this legislation in its present form.”
Gene Taylor (Miss.) Made it clear to constituents this summer he is a “no.”
Harry Teague (N.M.) Skeptic of public option

UNDECIDED/REVIEWING BILL
Melissa Bean (Ill.)
Marion Berry (Ark.) Wants more aggressive action against HMOs, drug makers
Rick Boucher (Va.) Wary of public option; voted no in Energy and Commerce Committee
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
Yvette Clarke (N.Y.)
Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
Chet Edwards (Texas) A perennial GOP target; rejected climate bill
Keith Ellison (Minn.)
Bob Etheridge (N.C.) May run for Senate
Bill Foster (Ill.) “Encouraged” House is moving forward; voted no on climate bill
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Republicans targeting Science panel chairman
Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) Wants vote on “robust” public option
Baron Hill (Ind.) 
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) He said he “will have trouble voting for anything other than robust public option.”
Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) Opposes abortion rights 
Dan Maffei (N.Y.)
Betsy Markey (Colo.) Has concerns with cost of the bill
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.)
Patrick Murphy (N.Y.)
Glenn Nye (Va.)
Jim Oberstar (Minn.)
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) Voted no on climate change bill
Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) Voted no on climate measure
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) Has gone from “yes” to undecided
Heath Shuler (N.C.)
Adam Smith (Wash.)
Zack Space (Ohio) Voted yes on Energy and Commerce Committee
Betty Sutton (Ohio)
Peter Visclosky (Ind.)

 Democratic defections come in face of last-minute push

After months of teetering on the fence as to whether to support their party’s healthcare bill, several Democrats have broken out against the reform legislation in racing toward a vote.

Reps. Eric Massa (N.Y.), Frank Kratovil (Md.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.), Larry Kissell (N.C.), Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.), Walt Minnick (Idaho), Harry Teague (N.M.), and Mike McMahon (N.Y.) have all bucked their party’s leadership and announced their opposition to the bill, on which debate began in the House on Saturday.

Read more

From the House Ways and Means Republicans:

Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail.  The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said:  “This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail.  It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.”

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]

- – – – – – – – – -

“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

- – – – – – – – – -

“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses.  Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties.  The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration.  Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates.  Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.

Live Pulse The Latest :

 STATE OF PLAY – STILL A VERY TOUGH SITUATION FOR DEM LEADERS: Late last night (AP alerted at 11:53 p.m.), House Democratic leaders caved to pressure from anti-abortion Democrats by granting them a vote on an amendment that would bar insurance companies from covering abortion under the exchanges. It’s another bitter pill for liberal Democrats, but party leaders are gambling that it will be just the breakthrough they need to get to 218. At least 23 Democrats have come out against the bill, giving Speaker Nancy Pelosi a buffer of 17 votes. But there could easily be another 20 Democrats in the “lean no” category, not to mention the broad universe of undecided lawmakers. So Pelosi and her team essentially need every undecided vote and four or five “lean no”s. That’s a difficult dynamic for any party at any time, but the election results and unemployment rates that just eclipsed 10 percent don’t help. President Obama will try to push the undecideds into the “yes” column when he addresses the caucus at 11:25 a.m. today. After all, few rank-and-file House members have the conviction to say “no” to their party’s president. And Obama’s morning visit makes it likely that the vote will come today because Democratic leaders wouldn’t bring in the big gun unless they were ready to fire. Not to mention that losing such a crucial vote on Obama’s signature issue would make the failure in Copenhagen look smalltime.

OUTRAGE: Democrats abuse power and reject debate on healthcare bill

Make sure you’re sitting down…

Folks, if this video doesn’t make it clear that Democrats in Congress will do ANYTHING needed to pass through their corrupt legislation, even if it means blatantly abusing their power… nothing will.

Nov13

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New York City: Teach-in, Close U.S. military bases in the Pacific: The Granny Peace Brigade presents its fourth

Categories:

House

Categories:

House

FLOOR ACTION — GOP working to scuttle attempts to proceed

The House is almost out of order, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said as he presided over the House Saturday morning.

Republicans have openly admitted Democrats they have the votes to pass health care overhaul legislation but some GOP lawmakers are hatching floor tactics that will delay movement on the bill.

Members of the minority are trying to scuttle attempts to proceed with the bill by objecting to unanimous consent requests from Democrats to speak outside the rules of debate.

Reps. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Pete Sessions (Texas), Dan Burton (Ind.) and Louie Gohmert (Tex.) are leading the charge, constantly objecting to Democrats’ attempts to speak outside the rule to extend and revise remarks on health care overhaul.

Dingell, who presided over the House’s debate of the Medicare bill in 1965, seems to be getting restless, turning down Republican objections. Rules Chairman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) eventually yielded time to the Republicans.

There’s also some talk on the Republican side of putting up enough present votes to deny Democrats adoption of Rep. Bart Stupak’s (D-Mich.) amendment to prevent federal funding of abortions. That probably won’t happen because they’ll want to vote for the abortion restriction, but if they choose to pull out all the stops to create disorder, it could.

By Jake Sherman and Jonathan Allen

CEOs: Public option will cost businesses

The Masters of the Universe are consolidating their lobbying forces in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s announcement that the health care bill will include a public option.

Members of Business Roundtable, a consortium of high-profile CEOs, held a conference call Wednesday to publicly rip the public option.

“The public plan has, in our view, many problems,” said John Castellani, the group’s president. “It will likely simply shift, rather than reduce, costs and will stifle the innovation that we need to continue improving our health care system.”

Castellani said the public, or government-run, plan will transfer health care coverage costs to private payers and “will likely reimburse providers at a sub-market rate, forcing private plans to compensate by paying higher rates.”

“The government does not have a good record on managing costs,” said Antonio Perez, CEO of Eastman Kodak.

Business Roundtable has been called “the most influential chief executive lobbying group in the U.S.” Its members employ roughly 12 million people and provide health insurance for “more than 35 million people,” according to the group’s estimates.

Verizon Chairman Ivan Seidenberg warned against the negative effects of the public option on current health care plans and their beneficiaries.

“We don’t want to take the 175 million people that are getting insurance through their employers and throw them out the window,” Seidenberg said.

Markham Heid

MoveOn continues targeting moderate Dems

MoveOn surveyed its members and found that 93 percent would not support their senator for re-election if they help Republicans block a vote on health reform. In Nebraska and Arkansas the number was also 93 percent and in Louisiana, the number was 89 percent. The results are intended as warning shots to Sens. Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu, respectively.

MoveOn members that have donated to Nelson and Lincoln’s campaigns will deliver letters to their offices today saying that they will not support their re-elections if they block an up-or-down vote on reform.

“MoveOn members are intensifying our efforts to press Senators not to stand in the way of reform. And we will continue to work with progressive leaders in both chambers to make sure that the bill that lands on the President’s desk includes a robust public option available everywhere, makes certain that healthcare is affordable for working families and covers those most in need,” said MoveOn’s Justin Ruben.

Read the email to supporters after the jump.

» Continue reading MoveOn continues targeting moderate Dems

MoveOn has praise and a warning

MoveOn has praise for the opt-out, but foreshadows the intra-party fight to come among liberal and conservative Democrats.

“A handful Conservative Democrats are threatening to join with Republicans to block an up-or-down vote on a healthcare bill,” wrote executive director Justin Ruben. “MoveOn members are intensifying our efforts to press these Senators not to stand in the way of reform. And we will continue to work with progressive leaders in both chambers to make sure that the bill that lands on the President’s desk includes a robust public option available everywhere, makes certain that healthcare is affordable for working families and covers those most in need. ”

By including the opt-out in the bill, Reid can argue that he has done all he can to push through a strong public option. Now, the onus is largely on liberal groups to deliver 60 votes it needs to pass — a high bar indeed. 

Full MoveOn statement after the jump.

» Continue reading MoveOn has praise and a warning

Preserving Freedom And Federalism: What’s At Stake For Americans In The Health Care Debate

Source: www.heritage.org

The massive congressional health care bills would raise health care costs, undermine consumer choice and quality of care, and trample on the traditional role of the states. The wisdom of the Founding Fathers was evident in recognizing the inherent limits of political power and in constitutionally d…

House Committee on Ways & Means – Republican

Source: republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov

According to analysis from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) the number of illegal immigrants covered under Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats’ health care bill (H.R. 3962) has increased by 2.5 million from their original bill, H.R.