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Jamie Dupree

A Weekend Vote?

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Jamie Dupree
@ November 5, 2009 12:00 AM
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House Democrats have put in motion plans to hold a vote on an over $1 trillion health reform plan on Saturday, but they still have a lot of work to do to make sure there are 218 votes in favor of the bill.

Democrats accepted one deal on abortion language with some pro-life Democrats, but others rejected the deal, leaving in question how many votes that move will win when the votes are tallied.

Meanwhile, Blue Dog Democrats continue to be on the fence for the most part, making rumblings about getting more concrete cost reduction provisions in the bill.

"My decision is based on the substance of the bill," said Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL), who has made no bones about not wanting to sign on to a $1 trillion-plus health care bill.

"I just don't think you can pass health care legislation or energy legislation with just one party," Boyd told reporters just off the House floor on Wednesday.

When asked about whether the bill "bends the cost curve" for medical expenses, Boyd did not seem convinced.

The conventional wisdom on Capitol Hill for much of this debate has been that a number of Blue Dogs will probably fold in the end, and vote for a health reform bill.

"I don't think we're there yet. I think we got a ways to go," Boyd added.

Boyd was one of many Democrats I interviewed yesterday who didn't seem at all fazed by the defeats suffered by Democrats in the Governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey.

But you have to figure that the outcome is weighing on the minds of some endangered Democratic freshmen lawmakers.

That's probably why President Obama will be meeting with various lawmakers in coming days, and making a visit to the Capitol on Friday for a little in person pep talk and lobbying.

No matter how much lawmakers whine about making a vote, a lot of them get weak in the knees when a President comes calling.

We'll see if that turns out to be true on health care reform.

As for action today, Republicans are holding a rally on the West Front of the Capitol on health reform, where they are expected to blast the Democratic health care plans, with their supporters then flooding the hallways to do a little lobbying.

That should be a fun event to cover, as we get down to the nitty gritty of health reform in the Congress.



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What others are saying

  • Blue Dogs
    The Blue Dogs will fold like a cheap suit. With as much pressure as PresBO and Pelosi are goign to apply, they will fall in line.
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