I think Pelosi would have gotten the votes by hook and by crook. Yes, the report would have caused constituents to amp up the pressure on their reps (representatives) to vote no, but in the end, the reps would have ignored it. The reps were willing to ignore that pressure even in light of the election a couple weeks ago, so I don’t think this report would have changed anything. This bill was driven like a force of nature or weather. I don’t think anything except sheer numbers could have stopped it. Even if Hoffman had been elected and turncoat liar Cao had not turned, it still would have passed. There was no hesitation by Pelosi and her thugs to sacrifice some rat seats to get this bill passed. It will be such wonderful poetic justice if this flops in the senate and there is no bill.
With that said, the abortion/right to life issue just may blow this bill out of the congress. The women who are ticked off that the Stupak amendment outdid the right to abortion movement has angered that segment of the progressive caucus.
I believe many will go beyond rhetoric and vote against the bill if the Stupak amendment remains, so it is possible that either caucus could bring this bill to a “don't pass go, do not receive 200.00”.
The progressives, the liberals, the conservative democrat's they are fighting amongst themselves and whoa nelly it is so much better than fighting with the republicans or the republican's fighting amongst themselves.
I think I am just going to make some popcorn and pull up a chair there is going to be one hell of a show on the other side of the aisle.
~FMC