Posted on 03/04/2010 1:27:51 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Yesterday they needed 216 to pass it, now they need 217. Like Ace says: Nomentum.
U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal will delay his resignation from Congress by three weeks, citing intense pressure from House Republican leaders to remain and vote against President Barack Obama’s plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system…
News of Deal’s decision was inadvertently broken by U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, who congratulated Deal on his decision.
On Monday, before 100 supporters at the Gainesville Civic Center, Deal said he would leave Congress, effective March 8, in order to devote all his time to his campaign for governor.
Obama could in theory push the vote back into April or May to wait Deal out and force him to resign before the bill comes to the floor, but after Gibbs set a deadline of March 18 for passage this morning, he’ll look like an even weaker chump than usual if he does that.
A quick Democratic head count: Shelley Berkley, who voted yes in November, is a likely no this time. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Frank Kratovil — who was named in that dopey AP piece a few days ago as a possible flip to yes — voted no last time and say they’re voting that way again. The only way to flip all three? The Senate has to pass Obama’s “fix” to Reid’s Senate bill before the House votes on anything. If they do it the other way, with the House passing Reid’s bill first, there’s a chance that reconciliation could collapse in the Senate, leaving the House stuck with the Reid bill they pretty much all hate (albeit for different reasons).
Geraghty’s been doing yeoman’s work trying to figure out precisely what has to happen for Pelosi to get to 217. According to his latest calculation, every last pro-life Democrat who’s threatening to vote no with Stupak this time would have to flip to yes; if even one of them votes no — which seems exceedingly likely — it’s all over. And that assumes that House progressives will fall in line and stick with their yes votes from November. By no means is that a sure thing; remember, Raul Grijalva says he’s “pretty certain” that several liberals are ready to walk away this time. In fact, Roll Call claims they were pestering The One at last night’s White House health-care huddle about possibly reviving, er, the public option. Good luck with that, champ. The long and short of it is, unless I’ve missed a story somewhere, not a single Democrat who voted no before has committed to flipping to yes this time. The momentum is entirely the other way.
Does Murtha’s death affect Pelosi’s vote chase?
YOU ARE SO RIGHT!
Enough talk....time to kick it up a notch, get the lead out and make a move that can bring results...what are WE waiting for? God bless this country.
Yes, reduced the votes FOR by one!
Thanks for the ping!
Does that mean Neil Abercrombe can come back and vote?
Meet them head on at the Town-hall meetings and tell them you will not put up with them supporting any kind of health care bill that gives the government control over our health care!
Remember Mattheson from Utah is probably a yes vote or his brothers appeals court appointment falls through.
bttt. good for Deal. He is doing the right thing.
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