Today in Washington, D.C. - Mar 5, 2010 - What Deals Will Obama & Pelosi Make to "Rahm" Gov't Healthcare Through?
Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 4213, the tax extenders bill. The bill extends tax provisions that expired at the end of the year such as state sales tax deductions and the research and development tax credit. Yesterday, the Senate rejected the first amendment offered by Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) by a vote of 44-56. The Brown amendment would have provided a six month payroll tax holiday to employees, offset by unspent stimulus funds. The Senate also rejected an amendment by Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to limit discretionary spending for the next 5 years. The amendment failed to get the 60 votes needed to waive a budget point of order against it.
With the next move on Democrats’ 2,700 page $2.5 trillion health care plan now apparently up to the House of Representatives, it will be instructive to watch how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team go about rounding up votes for a bill the overwhelming majority of the American people oppose.
Recall that the last time Democrat leaders were hunting for support of rank-and-file Democrats in a close vote on the health care bill was in November and December in the Senate. The results? The infamous Louisiana Purchase, Cornhusker Kickback, the Gator-Aid (exempting many Florida seniors from Medicare Advantage cuts), and other provisions were inserted into the health care bill in order to secure the votes of wavering Democrat senators.
With the action now in the House, what sort of deal-making and strong-arm tactics will Democrat leaders use to get their members to vote for a massively unpopular government takeover of health care? We got a glimpse of the beginning yesterday.
The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack noted that on Wednesday night, the White House hosted a reception that included 10 House Democrats who had previously voted against the health care bill. Among them was Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah. McCormack reported, “The White House just sent out a press release announcing that [the same day] President Obama nominated Matheson’s brother Scott M. Matheson, Jr. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.” Rep. Matheson and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs have both said there’s nothing to this. But DNC Chairman Tim Kaine had an interesting comment on the Matheson situation in an appearance on MSNBC yesterday. Mika Brzezinski asked Kaine, “Are you saying there is no other reason but qualification for this?” Kaine replied, “Qualification is the most important and I’m sure there are other factors. Life is life.”
Another indicative story was a bit lost with all the other news yesterday. The Hill reports that Blue Dog Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) stepped down from the House Budget Committee yesterday. Interestingly, The Hill noted, “Louisiana Democratic officials claimed the party leadership pressured Melancon into leaving the committee for not supporting healthcare reform.” Melancon previously voted against the bill in November.
Will this continue? Some Democrat leaders apparently aren’t troubled by it. According to Politico, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) actually defended the Cornhusker Kickback yesterday, saying “We needed 60 votes, if we didn’t have 60 votes, we wouldn’t be standing at the steps. . . . At the time, it was an important part of the ultimate agreement.”
DickMorris.com identified that "All aspects of President Obama’s Chicago-style tactics are on display as he cajoles, bullies, and bribes the House to pass his health care proposals despite the overwhelming public rejection with which they have been met. To some, he offers bribes. Congressman Jim Matheson [D-UT] . . . succeeded in getting his brother Scott appointed to a federal judgeship. Matheson voted against Obamacare when it first passed the House. . . . now professes to be undecided. . . .
Eric Massa [D-NY], a renegade Democrat . . . faces his wrath. Massa’s sin was to vote against Obamacare. So Pelosi and the ethically-challenged House Ethics Committee are investigating him . . . . But there is a reward waiting for House members who ignore the wishes and interests of their constituents and vote for Obama’s health care proposals. Alan Mollohan has had a pesky FBI investigation hanging over his head for a few years. Now, presto, right before the health care vote, it went away. . . . With health care reform coming up for a vote in the next few days, such tactics send a message to the House where Pelosi is having trouble lining up her votes: That Obama will do anything - anything at all - to pass this bill."
What “ultimate agreement” will Speaker Pelosi roll out? Hopefully nothing like the laundry list of backroom deals that came out of the Senate process, but Americans should keep their eyes on undecided House Democrats.
Tags: government healthcare, Impeach Nancy Pelosi, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
With the next move on Democrats’ 2,700 page $2.5 trillion health care plan now apparently up to the House of Representatives, it will be instructive to watch how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team go about rounding up votes for a bill the overwhelming majority of the American people oppose.
Recall that the last time Democrat leaders were hunting for support of rank-and-file Democrats in a close vote on the health care bill was in November and December in the Senate. The results? The infamous Louisiana Purchase, Cornhusker Kickback, the Gator-Aid (exempting many Florida seniors from Medicare Advantage cuts), and other provisions were inserted into the health care bill in order to secure the votes of wavering Democrat senators.
With the action now in the House, what sort of deal-making and strong-arm tactics will Democrat leaders use to get their members to vote for a massively unpopular government takeover of health care? We got a glimpse of the beginning yesterday.
The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack noted that on Wednesday night, the White House hosted a reception that included 10 House Democrats who had previously voted against the health care bill. Among them was Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah. McCormack reported, “The White House just sent out a press release announcing that [the same day] President Obama nominated Matheson’s brother Scott M. Matheson, Jr. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.” Rep. Matheson and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs have both said there’s nothing to this. But DNC Chairman Tim Kaine had an interesting comment on the Matheson situation in an appearance on MSNBC yesterday. Mika Brzezinski asked Kaine, “Are you saying there is no other reason but qualification for this?” Kaine replied, “Qualification is the most important and I’m sure there are other factors. Life is life.”
Another indicative story was a bit lost with all the other news yesterday. The Hill reports that Blue Dog Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) stepped down from the House Budget Committee yesterday. Interestingly, The Hill noted, “Louisiana Democratic officials claimed the party leadership pressured Melancon into leaving the committee for not supporting healthcare reform.” Melancon previously voted against the bill in November.
Will this continue? Some Democrat leaders apparently aren’t troubled by it. According to Politico, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) actually defended the Cornhusker Kickback yesterday, saying “We needed 60 votes, if we didn’t have 60 votes, we wouldn’t be standing at the steps. . . . At the time, it was an important part of the ultimate agreement.”
DickMorris.com identified that "All aspects of President Obama’s Chicago-style tactics are on display as he cajoles, bullies, and bribes the House to pass his health care proposals despite the overwhelming public rejection with which they have been met. To some, he offers bribes. Congressman Jim Matheson [D-UT] . . . succeeded in getting his brother Scott appointed to a federal judgeship. Matheson voted against Obamacare when it first passed the House. . . . now professes to be undecided. . . .
Eric Massa [D-NY], a renegade Democrat . . . faces his wrath. Massa’s sin was to vote against Obamacare. So Pelosi and the ethically-challenged House Ethics Committee are investigating him . . . . But there is a reward waiting for House members who ignore the wishes and interests of their constituents and vote for Obama’s health care proposals. Alan Mollohan has had a pesky FBI investigation hanging over his head for a few years. Now, presto, right before the health care vote, it went away. . . . With health care reform coming up for a vote in the next few days, such tactics send a message to the House where Pelosi is having trouble lining up her votes: That Obama will do anything - anything at all - to pass this bill."
What “ultimate agreement” will Speaker Pelosi roll out? Hopefully nothing like the laundry list of backroom deals that came out of the Senate process, but Americans should keep their eyes on undecided House Democrats.
Tags: government healthcare, Impeach Nancy Pelosi, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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