Stupak: House Dem leaders at least 16 votes short on healthcare reform ("Guesstimate")

The Hill ^ | 03/15/10 | Bob Cusack

[Mrs. Don-o]

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said Monday he thinks House Democratic leaders are not close to having the votes to pass health reform.

In an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, the anti-abortion rights lawmaker said, "I'd be surprised if they have 200 votes."

House Democratic leaders need 216 to pass the bill.

Stupak noted that he is not counting votes with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her lieutenants, calling his figure "a guesstimate."

Democratic leaders have a very different vote count, claiming they have, or are very close, to having the votes to pass a bill.

Stupak and other anti-abortion rights Democrats who voted for the House bill last year are vowing to vote no unless the abortion language is changed in the final measure. The Michigan lawmaker said there is a lot of "arm-twisting" to attract votes, adding that leadership officials are asking members what they want in the yet-to-be-released reconciliation package to secure their votes.

[Reagan69]

Thank you for the info... I’ll get to work.

[444Flyer]

BTTT

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

I don’t trust Bart..he wants to read the language of the reconciliation bill before he makes up his mind. Dummie, there will be no reconciliation bill, you are toast if you vote yes.

[Grunthor]

I followed your link and directions. I sent the following;

I have been reading, reading and reading again my copy of the United States Constitution and I can NOT find anywhere it says that the government has the power to require ANYONE to buy ANYTHING. I’d like to know just HOW that provision of the health care bill is going to stand up under the right-leaning Supreme Courts’ gaze.

Of course this should surprise NO ONE as our young PResident once exclaimed in an interview how he did not like that the Constitution limited what the government can do to...er, FOR the people.

Grunthor

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I’m a cynic so I believe this whole reconcilliation fiasco is to give Dem Congressmen cover to say I voted for the health care bill but they were supposed to fix it in the Senate and did not. They will have someone else to blame come campaign and debate time.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"I’d like to know just HOW that provision of the health care bill is going to stand up under the right-leaning Supreme Courts’ gaze."

It's a nice thought but the same argument can be applied to social security and it has not been repealed. We are forced to pay into social security. While I agree with your sentiments, in the real world it's not going to happen.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Great info! Thank you, Hojczyk!

[rlmorel]

I am going to make a guess here, and judge that those 37 “undecided” votes are already decided as “Yes” for the most part, and are just hanging back to avoid criticism.

[rlmorel]

Thanks for the link...will use it when I get home tonight.

[Mrs. Don-o]

DON'T MAKE ANY PHONE CALLS!
DON'T TRY TO CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN!
SUR-RENN-DERRRRRR....DORO-THEEEE-E-E-E--E

I'm Nancy Pelosi and I approve this message.

[camle]

it’s too bad the republicans can’t’ force a vote while they still have the advantage...

[rlmorel]

ROTFLMAO! That was perfect...gave me a chuckle, right here in my office...:)

Thank God for FR...if there wasn’t any comedic relief, it would be way too grim...

[The_Media_never_lie]

They are weak. You are right, now is the time to go on the offensive.

[chris_bdba]

I’d personally like to see the No go to about 230 or higher!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Hey! Well! I say go for 400 and include the impeachments of Nancy Pelosi and Louise Slaughter: Organizers, "Grandmas for Genocide."

The very well-organized Susan B. Anthony List is running radio ads in Nine (9) Key Congressional Districts represented by Pro-Life Democrats. They are strongly urging those Congressmen to STAND FIRM and vote NO on DeathCare. They want to go to a dozen or more carefully-selected, crucial districts.

To listen to a sample ad, CLICK HERE.

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!

CLICK AND SUPPORT THESE TARGETTED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RADIO ADS

[eccentric]

I would like to have any ‘pro-life Democrat’ explain to me how he thinks that abortion will not be funded. If the bill is not ammended within a year to pay for abortions, the court will force the government to provide abortion coverage in any healthcare plan.