The US Healthcare reform vote this weekend depend on swingers. House Representatives who either voted no, but can be convinced, or who were uncommitted in November, but can be convinced. Among the Democrats these include Representatives John Boccieri of Ohio, Allen Boyd and Suzanne M. Kosmas of Florida, and Scott Murphy of New York. According to The New York Times, they were privously uncommitted in November, but as of Friday, they have announced that they now support the bill. And then there are the Republicans to convince...
Jason Chaffetz, a freshman Republican from Utah, made the allegation that some Democrat Representatives were 'trading votes for jobs'. By mentioning names. Allegedly the two Representatives had been promised jobs at NASA and NATO, respectively. Allegations that have immediately been refuted by the two Representatives in question. It's a tired old way of argumenting that if you don't have any solid arguments against your opponent, you simply attack your opponent directly. Why doesn't the honourable freshman consider the Healthcare reform bill more closely than throwing around allegations? On the other hand, both he and some republicans who voted no in November may be persuaded.
Republicans worry that the reform will entail 'Socialist' conditions in the USA if the Healthcare bill is passed. How so, if the bill is based on private insurances, with a huge number of people previously not insured being forced by law, and on pain of fines if not, to make insurance deals with privately owned insurance companies? Won't the private insurance companies gain from this new market? And shouldn't this convince at least some Republicans?
Democrats worry that the Healthcare reform bill won't be stretching far enough. And are worried about the abortion non-coverage compromise. But isn't an extension of a further some 30 million Americans getting health insurances better than no bill at all?
These questions, and many others, will be considered before the big vote expected to take place Sunday.
For further information, please see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8577062.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/us/politics/20health.html?hp