BREAKING: House Democrats have picked up critical health reform “yes” votes from a group of anti-abortion lawmakers, including Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, according to senior Democratic aides. Democrats believe a breakthrough with Stupak's group - based on the promise of an executive order to be issued by President Barack Obama reinforcing a ban on federal funding for abortion - will help give them the 216-vote majority needed to pass reform on Sunday. (1:05 p.m.)
SOURCE: Politico44
***UPDATE***
Stuart Varney reports on Fox Business Channel that Stupak is still a NO vote.
***UPDATE***
Stupak holds press conference: "We have an agreement."
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Kaptur to vote for health-care reform
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), a key holdout on health care because of her concern over abortion language in the Democratic proposal, announced on a Toledo television station this morning that she would vote for the legislation.
The conversion represents a major coup for President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, suggesting Democratic leaders may be on the verge of converting a crucial bloc of holdouts -- Catholic lawmakers who oppose abortion rights -- as they scour the Democratic caucus for the 216 votes needed for passage.
Pelosi and Obama's White House team have held frantic, last-minute talks with Kaptur and about a half-dozen other Democrats who believe the Senate bill, expected to come before the House this evening, could allow people who receive federal subsidies for health insurance to purchase policies that cover abortion procedures.
But Kaptur said she is now confident that the administration would take the necessary steps to preserve the current ban on federal funding of abortion.
"We received assurances last night that we would work with the administration and Secretary Sebelius and the president to ensure that existing law is maintained," Kaptur told WTVG in an interview. "Not to change it in any way, but to make sure it applies to this bill."
Kaptur said she also considered the broader problem of rising health-care premiums in deciding to support the bill. "The bill overall addresses a serious problem before the country today," Kaptur said.
SOURCE: Washington Post
The conversion represents a major coup for President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, suggesting Democratic leaders may be on the verge of converting a crucial bloc of holdouts -- Catholic lawmakers who oppose abortion rights -- as they scour the Democratic caucus for the 216 votes needed for passage.
Pelosi and Obama's White House team have held frantic, last-minute talks with Kaptur and about a half-dozen other Democrats who believe the Senate bill, expected to come before the House this evening, could allow people who receive federal subsidies for health insurance to purchase policies that cover abortion procedures.
But Kaptur said she is now confident that the administration would take the necessary steps to preserve the current ban on federal funding of abortion.
"We received assurances last night that we would work with the administration and Secretary Sebelius and the president to ensure that existing law is maintained," Kaptur told WTVG in an interview. "Not to change it in any way, but to make sure it applies to this bill."
Kaptur said she also considered the broader problem of rising health-care premiums in deciding to support the bill. "The bill overall addresses a serious problem before the country today," Kaptur said.
SOURCE: Washington Post
Health Care Schedule for Today
This is it. The Super Bowl of health care. Democrats will try to force through their health care overhaul plan.
Via Dan Foster at NRO, here's how it'll go down:
Not that this is set in stone; rumor is that the more off-schedule the Dems get, the more hesitant that they are that they have the votes. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. As we've seen, they're desperate, and ready to do anything and everything to get the necessary votes needed on board.
This is make or break. If you haven't called or e-mailed vulnerable Representatives yet, this is your day to do so. If you must, threaten to contribute to a vulnerable Congressman's electoral opponent. Money talks like nothing else.
SOURCE: Town Hall
Via Dan Foster at NRO, here's how it'll go down:
- 2 p.m.: The House will debate for one hour the rules of debate for the reconciliation bill and the Senate bill.
- 3 p.m.: The House will vote to end debate and vote on the rules of the debate.
- 3:15 p.m.: The House will debate the reconciliation package for two hours.
- 5:15 p.m.: The House will vote on the reconciliation package.
- 5:30 p.m.: The House will debate for 15 minutes on a Republican substitute and then vote on the substitute.
- 6 p.m.: The House will vote on the final reconciliation package.
- 6:15 p.m.: If the reconciliation bill passes, the House will immediately vote on the Senate bill, without debate.
Not that this is set in stone; rumor is that the more off-schedule the Dems get, the more hesitant that they are that they have the votes. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. As we've seen, they're desperate, and ready to do anything and everything to get the necessary votes needed on board.
This is make or break. If you haven't called or e-mailed vulnerable Representatives yet, this is your day to do so. If you must, threaten to contribute to a vulnerable Congressman's electoral opponent. Money talks like nothing else.
SOURCE: Town Hall
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