Open Threads

I understand that as a blogger I can afford to take the long view on health care reform, while many members of Congress unquestionably have their career at stake over this one vote. Nonetheless I think that Representatives who have gotten spooked by bad HCR poll numbers are making a terrible mistake. It might help to argue like Josh Marshall does that vulnerable seats got killed the worst in 2002 1994 (inexplicably got the date wrong there). He’s certainly right, but dry logic has only so much impact on crisis days like today. These Reps need a heap of supportive phone calls from constituents.

This is crunch time. Please phone and make sure that your Representative will supports the current road map: pass the Senate bill, then resolve issues such as the excise tax with a reconciliation fix. Tomorrow may be too late.

Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

Guide for first-timers here.

Unbelievably FrustratingPost + Comments (21)

As the HCR action turns to the House, the question of the week is can House Democrats get past 216 votes to pass the Senate HCR Bill as next step to passing HCR. On Wednesday President Obama will present his way forward on both the substance and the process for passing the damn bill. I suspect that he’ll ask the House to go first and then fix the Bill in Reconciliation as the final step.

So it is time to call Members of the House and get them on board to support P.T.D.B.

Taniel over at Campaign Diaries published a nice list of where the 39 NO votes for the House HCR Bill might line up with regard to a vote on the Senate Bill. These are all folks to call, especially the last 18 on the list.

Today President Obama is traveling to an event in the District of one of those Members.

It might also be worthwhile to call the DCCC (202-863-1500) and let them know that “NO” voters on HCR should not get DCCC support.

Cheers

dengre

Getting to 216 votes…Post + Comments (23)