Posted on 02/23/2010 5:59:21 AM PST by reaganaut1
...
[R]egardless of what happens at this week's superfluous summit, it’s difficult to see how Democrats cobble together enough votes to pass a final health care bill in the House.
Back in November, in a much better political environment for Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was able to muster only a narrow 220 to 215 majority in the House to pass its version of health care legislation. Since then, Rep. Joseph Cao, the one Republican who voted for the bill initially, has indicated he wouldn’t do so again because of objections to the abortion language. In addition, Florida’s Robert Wexler unexpectedly resigned, Rep. Neil Abercrombie announced plans to retire at the end of this month to run for governor of Hawaii and Rep. John Murtha passed away. Taken together, that brings Pelosi down to 216 votes -- which would be insufficient to pass a health care bill.
The Obama administration has pushed the argument that Democrats will be attacked on health care anyway, so they may as well pass a bill so they have an accomplishment to run on. “We own the bill and the health-care votes,” Obama adviser David Plouffe wrote in the Washington Post after Brown’s win. “We need to get some of the upside.”
The problem with this analysis is that even if one were to accept the fact that jamming through a massive and highly unpopular piece of legislation could be a political winner for the Democratic Party as a whole, it doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily good for each individual Democratic member of Congress. This is especially true for the Democrats who hold seats in conservative districts. While some liberals have noted that the failure of Hillarycare didn’t save Blue Dog Democrats in 1994, in that year, the bill never came to an actual vote
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
We’re being played by the shyster shuck and jive artists. All the House has to do is vote for the Senate Bill, which is illegal BTW, because tax increases must originate from the House, and pass it on to Bambi ... If they have the votes, do it.
These numbers are also suspect. Pelosi allowed certain Dems to vote no because she had enough votes to pass it last time. I suspect she can twist enough arms to get the votes she needs.
What is Bart Stupak saying?
I have no idea, but never trust a “blue dog.”
The Senate version doesn't have that and that is why it won't get even the amount close enough to pass.
SET THEIR LOCAL AND DC LINES ON FIRE!
Sen. Scot Brown's number is 202-224-5443
Capitol Hill switchboard is 202-224-3121
Lots of local demwit phone numbers on this thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2408217/posts
Rename, repackage, rewrite it a tad smaller, and sell another pig in a poke.
Tennessee has joined several other states in trying to pass a Health Care Freedom Act. NO COLAs for granny, retired Military or retired fed employees. BIG NEW fees for Tricare for Life retired over 65 Military's secondary health ins. (DOD bill already passed, delayed but goes into effect 2011)
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w/
New Dem mantra: Woof, woof eat dog food granny....ala let them eat cake.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Obama says slight fix will extend Social Security
http://townhall.com/news/us/2010/02/19/obama_says_slight_fix_will_extend_social_security
Health Care Rationing for Seniors Another Problem in New Obama Plan
http://www.lifenews.com/bio3058.html
TRI CARE FOR LIFE This from a google search:
http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html
This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollee’s cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.)
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf
http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/hcva09/hcva110609-1.htm
Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options 11/06/09
Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE Beneficiaries
Congress plans to block Tricare fee increases
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w
By Rick Maze - Staff writer, Oct 7, 2009
Tricare fee increases imposed last week by the Defense Department will be repealed by a provision of the compromise 2010 defense authorization bill unveiled Wednesday by House and Senate negotiators.
Snip
The fee increases were announced on Sept. 30 and took effect on Oct. 1, but the defense bill, HR 2647, includes a provision barring any fee increases until the start of fiscal 2011.
Snip
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Matz, president of the National Association for Uniformed Services, said the announcement of fee increases was shocking considering that the Obama administration promised earlier this year to hold off on any new fee Tricare fee increases until fiscal 2011.
“President Obama and DoD assured NAUS and the entire military family earlier this year that there would rightly be no increases in any Tricare fees” in fiscal 2010, Matz said. “We took them at their word, and I can’t believe that a co-pay increase like this was allowed to go forward,” he added.
Bambi doesn't keep his promises...so buyer beware.
If they have to, they will put back the Stupak amendment and then claim that shows they are “flexible, nor rigid ideologues.”
If they have to, they will put back the Stupak amendment and then claim that shows they are “flexible, not rigid ideologues.”
To do that though, they would have to put that in a “reconciliation bill,” pretend that abortion restrictions are budget items, and hope the senate parliamentarian would agree, right?
I think by the tone of Pelosi and Hoyer’s press release yesterday, we can surmise they are not particularly thrilled with this proposal. My understanding is that the Pubs are going to this meeting on Thursday with their own bill. One other thing, just heard on the radio this morning that Murtha’s wife has ruled out running for her husband’s seat. I think that was the only chance the Dems had of retaining that seat. Russell should win the seat in May’s special election and be re-elected in the general election in November. One less ‘yes’ vote for sure on this turd bill in the house.
and of course because a Republican how has a chance of winning that seat, odds appear high that it will be redistricted away after the 2010 census
This would provide cover for the House members while giving them comfort that their issues they want in the final bill would be approved. Haven't heard much about this lately, but it seems only way (since they can't amend the approved Senate bill) to get the House members to a majority.
They pull this off, and both houses might go GOP. OTOH, it may be too late. It will be difficult to change the laws in 2011, as the President would never sign any significant amendments and we would not have enough numbers for an override.
But if the Dems do succeed in ramming Obamacare through, they are very likely to lose key state offices, which would be bad news for Dems WRT redistricting in many states.
How many years does it take a bill passed like this to expire?
“How many years does it take a bill passed like this to expire?”
Five.
Everyone should call his/her reps and senators — regardless of their position to date. The GOP will need to have its spine stiffened as it gets suffocated by Beltway lies and spin.
If you live in a RAT district, let them know that they will exact a severe political price if they vote for BOcare. If your Democratic senator is not up for re-election this year, tell them you will vote straight Republican in November as punishment to the Democratic Party if they vote for BOcare - whether it is enacted into law or not.
Capitol Hill switchboard is 202-224-3121. Burn up the phone lines!
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