WASHINGTON — Amid intense lobbying by the Obama administration, House Democratic leaders struggled Friday for the final votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation, working to ease concerns among Hispanic holdouts and abortion foes.
“We’re very close” to having enough votes to prevail, said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, although he added a scheduled Saturday vote could slip by a day or two and sought to pin the blame on possible Republican delaying tactics.
“Nice try, Rep. Hoyer, but you can’t blame Republicans when the fact is you just don’t have the votes,” shot back Antonia Ferrier, spokeswoman for the GOP leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio.
In a struggle that combined the fate of President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority and a 2010 campaign issue, bipartisanship was not an option.
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Updates:
1:34 pm EST, November 7th, 2009 – AMA Members Revolt Over Obamacare Endorsement
2:28 pm EST, November 7th, 2009 – Obama in 11th-hour US health plea
5:36 pm EST, November 7th, 2009 — Palin: Speaker Pelosi –Your Blue Dogs are Howling
Watched some of this coverage on Fox, they are not debating some rule or something.
Is her smile botoxed on or what, her lips move but the rest of her face doesn’t seem to follow. She is bragging that it is 3 yrs to the day the democrats took congress and the senate. No wonder they are having so many problems there. Guess voting against hate doesn’t work. And most of that hate media inspired.
W and Laura visited the wounded today, very private, no photographers. Just honest concern.
There’s supposed to be some kind of committee vote late this evening which will take the matter to the floor of the house IF there are enough votes. Knowing full well that politicians are not into suicide and somebody is going to be blamed if the committee passes this bill I am less than impressed so far.
We’ll see how it goes.
Jennifer Rubin weighs in.
Between a rock and a hard place.
According to a story at Drudge, it will cost 15,000/year for insurance for health care.
Where does Pelosi think all those unemployed will get the money, or how willing those with jobs will be willing to pay for.
And they say Canada has a bad plan. I do know one widow who is paying 1,500/month for coverage in Montana.
I think what they mean is $15,000.00 coverage, Mary. I don’t know what that works out to in monthly payments.
I do know my cousin has been paying that 1,500/month for several years. She is still a cdn citizen and that might have something to do with it. She has lived in Montana for about 15 yrs, since she and her hubby retired. She come up for a visit last summer, and couldn’t bring her car into Canada. Phoned from the border for a ride.
And did you read that the new congressman from NY 23, has broken 4 campaign promises in 24 hours.
But, in Quebec, the brother of a defeated candidate did keep his promise by closing the only gas station in the town. Apparently he warned all residents he would do that if they didn’t re-elect his brother as mayor. Population of town 380.
Just glad I live in Canada and have benefitted greatly from our health care.
Waiting for results of the by-elections tomorrow.
Maybe you can encourage her to weigh in here and tell us what is really going on, Mary. Truth be told nobody understands what is happening.
Well I see Nancy got the vote she wanted so what’s the betting on the Senate?
I understand Moveon was putting up money to back Democratic candidates in the upcoming primaries to run against incumbents who voted against the health care bill so presumably the same will apply to the Senate.
Pelosi had the votes and the bill just passed. Now, it goes to the Senate.
Question is, will the no funding for abortion stay in when it gets there. If it doesn’t all those blue dogs will face trouble in 2010. It only won by 2 votes, one republican votes yea. Needed 218 and got 220.
What will Pelosi brag about when the bill gets to the Senate and is changed beyond recognition and could still be defeated. If they try to put funding for abortion back in it is dead in the water. Probably wont reach the Senate till it becomes an election issue next Nov.
MaryT I disagree and would suggest that Pelosi wants the rumored changes that may be made by the Senate. I think the Senators are going to be under he same pressures by
Move On as was the case in this vote. Pelosi only got this through thanks to Move On.
When was the last time they ever listened to their constituents?
Few people in Canada understand the staggering cost of ‘free’ medicare. Nothing is free. Look at the taxes we pay compared to Americans.