The last day to make a difference for health care reform. Once the House vote is done the Senate vote should be somewhat easier since the most important parts will already be law. Republicans can fight like demons to protect special deals for Nebraska and Louisiana and the excise tax, but somehow I doubt that they will have the spirit. Step up and help make history.
Remember that conservative Reps have good reason to think that their rightwing constituents will go nuts over this vote. Offering to help with some volunteer time in the fall could have a real impact.
mr. whipple
Paper today says only three Dem reps in Ohio not firm one way or the other:
Kaptur: Toledo, part of the Stupak bloc. Leaning yes.
Dreihouse: Cinci, also has ‘concerns’ over abortion. Says he’s no, but his statements leave some wiggle.
Space: undecided/undeclared
Bootlegger
Anyone know if my rep Chandler has finally hopped off the fence? Every time I called last week his office said he hadn’t decided and was waiting to see the cost.
demkat620
Does anybody know what the whip count is?
It looks like to me that without a cave in to Bart that they don’t have the votes.
Brian J
Any bets what will happen once this passes [knock on wood]? Will Republicans claim, in unison, they wanted a single payer bill? Will they blame anything that goes wrong, like some sudden increases in premiums or some accident, on health care reform? Will they start rumbling about impeachment?
boonagain
My Congressman Ellsworth is finally on board.
My calls and emails were not in vain.
mr. whipple
@Brian J:
Yes.
BDeevDad
@Brian J: Already there.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
Last night I dreamed a fetus ate my brain.
Bootlegger
@demkat620: Salon has it about 209 of 216 needed as of yesterday evening. Koppleman notes it could be higher but this is the “at least” count.
Liz
Can’t get through on the phones to Lynch so I just sent him an email. May try to stop by his office in Boston if I get the chance today.
Beth in VA
I’m still wary–how can we rely on the Senate to actually get even the simplest vote completed? The system is broken, and we’ve such crazy stuff lately–who knew so many strange people were actually elected to office just hankering for 15 minutes of obstructionist fame?
Maude
@General Egali Tarian Stuck: You set that one up but good.
What’s this make the baby?
Bootlegger
Intrade is in the 80’s for a Pass.
Will
Is that really the case? I was under the impression that nothing will be law until after the Senate votes again under reconciliation next week, since Obama won’t have signed anything until then. Can someone help unconfuse me on this point?
Tim F.
@Liz: Please send a fax to Lynch’s office. Faxes have a real impact; email has next to none.
Jason Bylinowski
@BDeevDad: Uh, remind me to never read comments from the Telegraph ever again. Holy shit, that was absolutely disturbing.
I think it would be reasonable to posit that if HCR passes, I seriously fear for the lives of some in Congress, and especially the President. The greater nutjobs are finding themselves suddenly backed into a corner when only a few weeks ago it must have seemed like they had us all beat. I am really curious to see both how the media spins the fallout, and how the farthest-right wing reacts to all this.
Karen
I feel really stupid because I’ve never done this before but I’m looking on the member directory. How do I know which district or which congressman is mine?
And if you can, bear with me and post the first timers link?
BDeevDad
@Karen: You can use your 9-digit zip code here.
Tomlinson
@Karen:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
In a nutshell, tell them your name, city, and zip. Tell them your position, what you’ve contributed in the past and what you’ll do if they do not vote your wishes.
Remember, they work for you.
Toodles
The NYT has a pretty good whip count.
Texas Dem
Looks like Stupak has canceled his morning press conference. The plot thickens….
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@Texas Dem: Just shoot me.
Toodles
This is just in case you could not see the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/16/us/politics/20100316-health-care-dems.html
Texas Dem
I think it’s safe to assume Stupak wasn’t going to simply tell us that he’s still against the Senate bill, so it would appear there’s no abortion deal, at least not right now. But Boehner admitted for the first time this morning (according to Roll Call) that the GOP may not be able to stop the health care bill. That is the first time I’ve seen a member of the GOP House leadership say anything other than the Dems don’t have the votes. And the convention wisdom says that when you get as close as the speaker is now (probably only down by a handful of votes), she finds a way to close. We just have to hope Nancy can deliver, because it’s all on her shoulders now.
Davis X. Machina
There’s one on the Clerk’s desk sixty seconds later. They’re dumb, but they’re not that dumb.
Their response will be in the form of a push for some Constitutional amendment. Impossible to achieve, great to fundraise on.
celticdragonchick
@BDeevDad:
I need my brain bleached after reading that.
RinaX
I posted this in a more recent thread, and I hope this won’t be considered spamming, but I was relieved to see this come across just now. Hopefully this is true and this Stupak nonsense is finally at an end.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/pelos-no-separate-vote-for-stupak.php
Looks like no deal and no vote.