212 for vs. 212 against on Saturday according to ABC News. 216 votes are needed. The expected vote on the Healthcare Reform bill is getting closer. Now we have not only undecided Democrats or Democrats who voted no in November voicing their support and 'yes' vote for the bill. With House speaker Ms. Pelosi meeting with at least three of the anti-abortion lawmakers — Representatives Christopher Carney and Kathy Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania and Steve Driehaus of Ohio — who hadn't yet voiced their decision on the vote, according to The New York Times.
And an Ohio freshman Democrat Representative Zack Space hasn't voiced his standing on the issue, but is under pressure from the unions who helped get him elected, that if he votes 'no' they will stop their endorsements. He is among the many Representatives, who do not answer their mails and phones. PN is also trying to get a comment.
Now we have what was thought to be impossible, now we even have Republican House Representatives announcing a 'yes' vote. According to CNN, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar released a statement saying he has 'decided to stand in support of this plan for health care reform.'
And an Ohio freshman Democrat Representative Zack Space hasn't voiced his standing on the issue, but is under pressure from the unions who helped get him elected, that if he votes 'no' they will stop their endorsements. He is among the many Representatives, who do not answer their mails and phones. PN is also trying to get a comment.
Now we have what was thought to be impossible, now we even have Republican House Representatives announcing a 'yes' vote. According to CNN, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar released a statement saying he has 'decided to stand in support of this plan for health care reform.'
Others are focusing on follow-up procedures. Harry Reid, Senate majority leader and a Nevada Democrat, is hoping to get support for a 51 signatured letter supporting a reconciliation bill for the passing of the bill in the Senate, once the bill passes in the House. But who has signed that letter, is unclear. Budget reconciliation is a procedure created in 1974 as a way of making changes in federal policy to meet fiscal guidelines set by Congress. Because the process includes a limit of 20 hours of debate, reconciliation bills cannot be blocked by filibuster in the Senate and need only a simple majority to pass. The filibuster permits a senator, or a series of senators, to speak for as long as they wish and on any topic they choose, unless 'three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn' (usually 60 out of 100 senators). Or in short: a block.
Meanwhile, President Obama is focusing more on the issue than on procedure, urging House Representatives to vote - not for himself, for Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid - but for the app. 32 million uncovered Americans who will get a chance to be covered by health insurances.
For further information, please see:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/20/health.care.main/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/counting-health-care-bill-votes-10155628
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/HealthCare/american-people-obama-calls-capitol-democrats-pass-health/story?id=10158231
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/health/policy/21health.html?hp
For further information, please see:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/20/health.care.main/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/counting-health-care-bill-votes-10155628
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/HealthCare/american-people-obama-calls-capitol-democrats-pass-health/story?id=10158231
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/health/policy/21health.html?hp