Democrats say they’re still short votes for healthcare passage in House

By John Byrne
Friday, November 6th, 2009 -- 11:32 am
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hoyer Democrats say theyre still short votes for healthcare passage in HouseHouse Democratic leaders have begun hedging their bets on holding a vote Saturday on Democrats' proposal healthcare overhaul, saying that the bill could be delayed because of Republican maneuvering and a dearth of votes from moderate Democrats.

The signal -- sent by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) on a conference call with reporters Friday, comes in addition to a comment by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who, when asked if she had the votes for her healthcare overhaul Thursday, said, "We will."

Hoyer said Democrats are "very close" to securing the 218 votes needed to pass the bill.

Analysts say some Democrats may be thinking twice after the defeat of two Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Maine and New Jersey, worrying that association with the liberal wing of the party may cost them their seats.

Hoyer, however, said he still expects a vote Saturday night.

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"Assuming...that we follow the schedule we have set, my expectation is we will finish debate on the bill, on the Republican substitute, and will be voting on the rule and the substitute and the bill, and will have final passage...by 7 to 8 o'clock tomorrow night," Hoyer said.

But if Republicans try to delay the bill, its passage could fall until Monday or Tuesday.

"Clearly, things happen, and delaying tactics can be employed," Hoyer added. "All I've done is make sure everybody understands that we're going to complete this effort."

Some Democrats are still withholding support, hung up on issues of paying for abortions and providing healthcare for immigrants.

"We are working on those now to make sure we have a construct that will facilitate the passage of the bill," he told reporters. "We're very close."

Obama is expected to seek support for the bill during appearances on Capitol Hill Friday.

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Story comments are below...
  • RadicalCaveman
    This is written by Raw Story?

    "Analysts say some Democrats may be thinking twice after the defeat of two Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Maine and New Jersey, worrying that association with the liberal wing of the party may cost them their seats."

    This is pure conservative propaganda of exactly the kind you expect from the corporate lamestream media. Why is Raw’s John Byrne imitating that genre? First of all, it's Virginia, not Maine, and the Virginia Democratic candidate was hardly a liberal, and he got crushed. Secondly, no analyst with more sense than the ultra-ignorant corporate media pundit class would base such sweeping conclusions on the outcomes of two statehouse-only races. Thirdly, the Democrats actually won both of the much more nationally relevant Congressional races, one of which was a district they hadn't won in over a century, a historic victory that any fair-minded analysis of the elections would emphasize. Fourthly, "Analysts say" is not a valid attribution. It's a way for a journalist to inject their own opinion into a news story while pretending it's not from them. Fifthly, the entire thing is simply a slightly watered down version of the blatant spin put on the recent tiny and mixed election results by the hardcore right-wing media, like Fox. Here we’re getting the repeat-all-the-right-wing-talking-points-without-the-histrionics approach of establishment conservative media like the AP, Washington Post, and even slightly better outlets like the New York Times.

    This is not what I read Raw Story for.
  • Savantster
    .
    wasn't it a total of 4 elections? 2 each way? and none of them had anything to do with health care or the way Congress is voting? .. well, actually, since the 2 at the Federal level were Dem wins, it would seem the public in those places is trying to HELP get a positive vote on health care, where the other two were about local issues.

    I agree, RAW is doing a lot of FOXesque "stories" lately.. getting pretty annoying.
    .
  • signwave
    I am actually starting to hate my own party. I wish there were a liberal alternative to the Dems. At this point, I'd join them - even if they were a small minority. I just can stand to watch this snivling cowardly bunch.
  • I'm with ya! As much as I hate to say it, the more I've read this bill, the closer I am to hoping it gets killed.

    What the hell did we work so hard for this past decade?
  • socialismorbust
    There iIS a Liberal alternative but it needs to be built from the ground up:
    http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf
    If you like the way Bernie Sanders stands for "We the People" then you will LOVE what his party-of-choice stands for: EQUALITY!
    You can't get any further LEFT than Democratic Socialism.
  • DownriverDem
    How can this be????????????
  • Name
    That is Pelosi's fault. She's letting herself be pushed around by Rahm Emmanuel and the members of congress that are even more corrupt than she is.
  • Name
    I hope the Democrats are thinking twice. It's not only the loss of two governors but the fact that a whole lot of people stayed home. They stayed home because it feels like Bush is still in the White House.
  • Savantster
    .
    If their aim is to be reelected, then they aren't doing their jobs.. they were elected to pass laws and create systems that help the public, being reelected isn't part of the job description.

    The public wants health care reform, period. 80% or more of the people in this country find it unacceptable that they can pay premiums, then be dumped and not have their bills covered. Most Americans feel trapped because they know if they were ever sick, they might never get insurance again, so they can't change jobs (if they have insurance through their employers). Reform is mandated by the public.

    The public option is also wanted by most Americans (not as many as want straight reform, but those opposed to the public option are mostly idiots who are being mislead and abused by the corportocracy). Removing it from the reform bill does little to stave off costs..

    The only thing most people are pissed about is the "mandated coverage".. which is one of the only things that will end up staying in this turd of a bill. If there is no public option, and the "assistance levels" aren't set high enough for various incomes, you're abusing the public for private corporate profits. As it is, this is a HUGE handout to the insurance companies.

    Strip the mandates .. OR

    put in a solid public option and ensure the financial limits of contribution aren't going to put undue strain on the lower income brackets.

    It feels like Bush is still in the White House because the right-wing is still guiding policy via their FOX noise, lies, screeching, and obstructing.
  • kmarx75
    There is an alternative...join the green party.

    www.gp.org
  • socialismorbust
  • chabuka
    Splitting the Democratic party..like the GOP/Conservatives tried in New York..(or Nader has tried before), will not work (lets take our country back from Corporation control first) splitting the Democatic party, at this time, might only get us Republican victories, in far to many important elections)....we replace the Corporate Democrats with progressive Democrats, first...and vote in some green candidates, too...if you like
  • Savantster
    .
    The flaw in your thinking is that the D makes some kind of difference. It does not. For my first exhibit, I present Arlen Specter. R today, D tomorrow.. did he become liberal? did he start to care about truth and decency? no.. just decided he could get reelected with a D party ticket vote in his home district.

    The party system needs to go away, period. Several of the Founding Fathers understood that a "two party system" would end up being what we have.. crap.
  • chabuka
    The flaw in your thinking....by my view, is that a politician is still a politician, no matter what party affliliation... they are in it for the money and the power (have to be wealthy to even get in to the "process", let alone, get elected)....there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans? I'll give you that..but thats like saying all black men are shiftless, all Mexicans are illegals or all Muslims are terrorists....What makes you think a political party by a different name would be any different...? (because they say they will...?) I don't discredit your way of thinking....but until we get "big money, special interest, Corporate lobbyist" out of politics and stop their buying of our Congress (Congress, Executive, Judicial)...nothing will change....real change will only come if we manage to stop all "private campaign funds" and make it public funding ( I doubt to many in Congress are on board with that idea, not even your Green
    Party (or any political party, for that matter) any suggestions on that idea...?
  • kmarx75
    There is an alternative to these bozos...join and vote the green party.

    www.gp.org
  • socialismorbust
    ANOTHER alternative with more "teeth" for "We the People":
    http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf
  • chabuka
    These Democrats have been "marked", (many of them won't be back after the 2010 mid-terms!)....never mind the Republicans (they are self-destructing)...it's the blue-dogs (Rahm's "moderates, the Corporate lackeys in Congress) that will have to go...
  • tED s.
    Maybe they are on to something finally..
  • thelonegunman
    STILL lacking vote?

    the Dems lack balls... they're too cowed by their corporate masters to vote for any type of "reform" that includes a public health plan...
  • chabuka
    Guess the old white people, racists and crazies, are outflanking the more informed, intelligent crowd on Health Care...how come we can't get can't some astroturf paid organizers....?Why are we sitting here (in the Majority) being shouted down and drowned out by the crazies and the ill-informed..? Letting selfish mean old white guys who have their Health Care/Medi-Care deny us the right to life.... ("Death Panles" for the under 65?) ...are they trying to kill us...? I mean they all already have their medi-care... ! (and apperently unlimited time on their hands, to raise hell, thanks to that other socialistic program, social security) while we our sitting on our butts, crying and blaming every one else, sending out e-mails, signing petitions and making phone calls (which are being conveniently ignored)........ is that the best WE can do...?
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