Posted on 03/21/2010 12:30:21 PM PDT by CWW
Unless a deal is struck with Stupak, Dems appear to be short on votes.
By Bob Cusack - 03/21/10 02:20 PM ET
Hours before a scheduled vote on healthcare reform, Democratic leaders don't have the votes.
The decisions of two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. John Tanner and Lincoln Davis, to vote no has put President Barack Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her lieutenants in a major bind.
If every member votes, Democratic leaders can only afford 37 defections. According to The Hill's whip list, there are 39 Democrats planning to vote no.
Furthermore, The Hill also has seven Democrats in the undecided/unclear column: Reps Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.), Paul Kanjorski (Pa.), Alan Mollohan (W.Va.), Mike Quigley (Ill.), Bobby Rush (Ill.) and Loretta Sanchez (Calif.).
There have been various reports on Sunday that Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and other anti-abortion lawmakers have agreed to an abortion deal involving an executive order from the Obama administration. However, Stupak's office are strongly denying those reports.
Even though several Democratic leaders said they had the votes on Saturday, Stupak said on Sunday he and others were involved in intense negotiations with the White House late on Saturday night. The Saturday night talks strongly suggest Democrats are short of the 216 necessary.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
When is this vote supposed to take place?
call stupak...never trust a dem...fight fight fight and keep fighting.
He’ll cave.. Party over Country
Go to Drudge.
Senate Republicans just found a provision making the Bill ineligible.
If we have to depend on a few democrats to do the right thing we are screwed.
Please God hear our prayers....
Pray, Pray, PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am praying this fails! Tried calling Stupak many times, can’t get through. Don’t give up!
It won’t until Pelosi has the votes lol
Or thinks she has them.
The outcome of any vote by Congress on health care is irrelevant since Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution does not specifically grant Congress the power to regulate health care! Therefore the so called legislation on its face is Unconstitutional! The people are not bound to comply with an Unconstitutional act of Congress! This is a power regulated to the states per the 10th Amendment!
It is the reason why Idaho and Virginia have passed legislation blocking federal health care from being illegally imposed on the citizens of those states by reasserting their 10th Amendment rights and 34 other states considering similar legislation! This is the point people need to hammer home with their Congress critters!
please god...please...answer our prayers
If true, they won’t vote. They’ll do the sea algae thing or something else. Look for another pressure cooker kind of week.
My prediction: We’re going to get this unmercifully rammed down our throats today.
Stupak (et al.) will cave under the bogus EO promised by Obama.
We’re screwed folks, this is as good as done.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Lucy, where’s that football!?
Lord, please let this be true.
They will get the votes if they have to outlaw abortion, shred the constitution and align Mars and Jupiter. Remember what Hastings said: The rules dont matter.
The abortion issue is a red herring. This Bill is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.. Grounds enough to vote NO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.