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How Murtha's Death Could Make It Harder to Pass a Health Care Bill

By on 2.8.10 @ 3:55PM

As the Capitol reacts to the death of Jack Murtha and remembers his legacy, it's worth pointing out that the news will make it even harder for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to secure the 218 votes needed to pass health care legislation.

Back in November, the House passed its health care bill by a narrow 220 to 215 margin, with 39 Democrats voting against it. Since then, the one Republican who voted for it -- Joseph Cao -- has indicated that he would not support the bill a second time around given the weaker language on abortion in the Senate version. In addition, Florida Rep. Robert Wexler already retired prematurely. Factor in Murtha's death today, and Pelosi is down to 217 votes. This doesn't even take into account the pro-life Democrats led by Bart Stupak who are prepared to vote "no." While there's been talk that Pelosi had some votes in reserve the first time around, the point is that those members felt they needed to vote against the bill -- and the political environment has deteriorated substantially for Democrats since then. 

With Murtha's death, the Cook Political Report has now moved his Pennsylvania district to the "toss up" category. If Republicans can field a good candidate and gain the seat, it would further reinforce the fears among Democrats in swing districts and make them less likely to jump on board with Pelosi. Chris Cillizza suggests the most likely date for the special election would be May 18. The special election to replace Wexler is scheduled for April 13, and is expected to go Democrat.

UPDATE: Another complicating factor is Rep. Neil Abercrombie. The Hawaii Democrat announced early last month that he would resign Feb. 28 run for governor. However, in his statement announcing his resignation, he said that he had ensured Pelosi that he’d be around to continue supporting the health care bill. Back when he made that statement, Scott Brown hadn’t won yet, and thus the end of this month seemed like plenty of time to finalize the health care bill. Now that the timeline has been pushed back, perhaps he’d postpone the effective date of his resignation if Pelosi still needed his vote.

UPDATE II: An earlier version of this post suggested that Democrats would be unable to pass the bill with 217 votes, but as a reader points out there's still the theoretical chance of passing it 217-216. So I changed the wording.

View all comments (72) | Leave a comment

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 4:08PM

Goodbye, John Murtha. | Little Miss Attila links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Goodbye, John Murtha. | Little Miss Attila About Joy Whittemore McCann Archives Categories Home Goodbye, John Murtha. February 8, 2010 Philip Klein is ready to bury the Democrats’ version of healthcare “reform” along with Rep. Murtha. But I don’t think there’s any chance Pelosi could have pulled it off at this point, irrespective: the political climate has changed too…

Flee| 2.8.10 @ 4:19PM

Will there be the same kind of tearful and joyous sendoff for Murtha that there was for Uncle Teddy? Can someone do a study to see who brought home more bacon for their state? My bet would be on Murtha.

Nick| 2.8.10 @ 4:34PM

First, the Swimmer. Now Murtha.

Maybe God is a Republican.

San Fran Nan better not get any more facelifts in the near future.

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 5:01PM

How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass A Health Care Bill | bling links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass A Health Care Bill Back when he made that statement, Scott Brown hadn’t won yet, and thus the end of this month seemed like plenty ... Source: American Spectator Bookmark / Share del.icio.us Digg Facebook StumbleUpon DZone Twitter Filed under: health-care-news No Comments How Republicans Might Game Obama’s Proposed Bipartisan Health Care Meeting »…

Moishe| 2.8.10 @ 5:12PM

From your mouths to G-d's ear!

MikeN| 2.8.10 @ 5:49PM

Your numbers don't add up. Switch Cao, and take away Wexler and Murtha, and you still have a 217-216 win.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.8.10 @ 8:08PM

Folks,
Mr. Murtha has been judged...by our Creator.
(uh, no bullfeathers accepted.) heh

Mr. Ted Kennedy has been judged by our Creator.
(No bullfeathers accepted).

Each of us will be judged by our Creator.

Each of us has lived out our lives in the most wonderful society the world has ever known, even with its warts.

Lock and load to keep it.

Ret. Marine| 2.9.10 @ 6:44AM

I'm with you on this one Ken, keep'm stacked and at the ready, it's not over till the wrinkle faced nanny is held down for another botox treatment. I fear her face is going to break one day, in front of the whole world what an embarrasment she's turned out to be..

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 8:29PM

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of passing ObamaCare links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Room TEST About Advertise Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of passing ObamaCare in House posted at 8:29 pm on February 8, 2010 by Allahpundit Share on Facebook | printer-friendly A nice catch by Philip Klein that completely eluded me earlier. With 218 votes needed to pass Reid’s bill, the number of Democrats who voted for the House’s ObamaCare bill last year now stands at … 217. Back in…

bob| 2.8.10 @ 8:31PM

I really doubt that God looks kindly on people who celebrate the death of their fellow man.

Nick| 2.8.10 @ 11:48PM

bob,

Try reading His book sometime.

Lots of killing of the wicked in there.

Gordon| 2.9.10 @ 10:48AM

That said, and coming from a staunch conservative, He is not in favor of men, all of whom are wicked, acting as judge. Nor do we do the conservative movement any favors when we stoop to the level of the viciousness displayed on lib sites upon the passing of any conservative.

Nick| 2.9.10 @ 12:46PM

Gordon,

Maybe you should re-read His book of Judges.

And if you are comparing my comments to the vile things posted on lefty sites, you also need to re-read those.

wws| 2.8.10 @ 8:44PM

"I've never killed a man, but I've read many an obituary with a great deal of satisfaction."
— Clarence Darrow

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 8:59PM

Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of passing ObamaCare in House | Deconstructi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of passing ObamaCare in House | Deconstructing The News Home About Authors Contribute Quotes Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson Inspirational Current Politicians George W. Bush Barack

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 10:52PM

Moe Lane » Health care rationing bill gets nuked from orbit. links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…the Stupak amendment and making a vulnerable Democrat flip-flop on his previous vote.  In a year when it’s a bad idea to be a Democratic incumbent anyway. The other problem is Abercrombie.  As Philip Klein and Ed Morrissey both noted, he’s supposed to be out the door at the end of the month in order to run for Governor of Hawaii.  He had also promised to stick around to get health care rationing…

Pingback| 2.8.10 @ 10:54PM

Health care rationing bill gets nuked from orbit. - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…the Stupak amendment and making a vulnerable Democrat flip-flop on his previous vote. In a year when it’s a bad idea to be a Democratic incumbent anyway. The other problem is Abercrombie. As Philip Klein and Ed Morrissey both noted, he’s supposed to be out the door at the end of the month in order to run for Governor of Hawaii. He had also promised to stick around to get health care rationing…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 12:20AM

Health Care BS - THE GRIM REAPER CARRIES OFF ANOTHER OBAMACARE VOTE links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…One begins to suspect that the Grim Reaper is against Obamacare. First, he got Ted Kennedy and now he’s made off with Jack Murtha. And Murtha’s absence matters for Obamacare. As Philip Klein puts it : As the Capitol reacts to the death of Jack Murtha and remembers his legacy, it’s worth pointing out that the news will make it even harder for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to secure the 218 votes…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 12:34AM

Jack Murtha gone… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…a reason to avoid tort reform, much as they tried to use Ted Kennedy’s death to push their hideous health reform bills through Congress. So Pelosi has lost not merely her best bully,  but also  another vote for health reform in the House.    I have nothing good to say about Murtha.   I’m old enough to remember the Abscam scandal,  which Murtha spent two decades lying about,  but what truly reduced…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 1:45AM

Health care rationing bill gets nuked from orbit. - www.hostzi.com - deep web news r links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…the Stupak amendment and making a vulnerable Democrat flip-flop on his previous vote. In a year when it’s a bad idea to be a Democratic incumbent anyway. The other problem is Abercrombie. As Philip Klein and Ed Morrissey both noted, he’s supposed to be out the door at the end of the month in order to run for Governor of Hawaii. He had also promised to stick around to get health care rationing…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 2:55AM

Jack Murtha, RIP | No Bull. news service. links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

shadow goverment No Bull. news service. No celebrity news here.     Jack Murtha, RIP I won’t speak ill of the departed, and therefore have nothing at all to say about Jack Murtha. Philip Klein, however, notes a potentially important point: if the Republican wins the special election to succeed Murtha in May, the Democrats’ government medicine bill could have trouble passing the House.…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 5:03AM

Jack Murtha, RIP | TheWorldPolitics links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

heWorldPolitics TheWorldPolitics Home Privacy Policy Jack Murtha, RIP February 9th, 2010 No Comments I won’t speak ill of the departed, and therefore have nothing at all to say about Jack Murtha. Philip Klein, however, notes a potentially important point: if the Republican wins the special election to succeed Murtha in May, the Democrats’ government medicine bill could have trouble passing the House.…

Deborah D| 2.9.10 @ 5:54AM

Many of us thought divine intervention would help save the country ... He does work in mysterious ways.

May God rest his soul.

Ret. Marine| 2.9.10 @ 6:50AM

I guess our maker really does have a sense of humor, he took Ted K. and now Jack M. and I keep wondering who's next. Good things do come in three's.
Mr. Murtha was once a Marine, I lost respect and any concerns for him the minute he acussed his fellow devil dog's with murder for political gains. I hope he does rest in peace but, my gut is telling me a different story.

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 7:02AM

Jack Murtha, RIP | America Watches Obama links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…OME Obama Store Privacy Policy Feb 9 2010 Jack Murtha, RIP Posted by Jacquita in All Post 0 Comments I won’t speak ill of the departed, and therefore have nothing at all to say about Jack Murtha. Philip Klein, however, notes a potentially important point: if the Republican wins the special election to succeed Murtha in May, the Democrats’ government medicine bill could have trouble passing the House.…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 10:29AM

Whatever happened to negotiating without preconditions? | Kyle Wingfield links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…election that there’s no appetite among Democrats for forging ahead with the current bills. (Not to dance on his grave, but the death yesterday of Rep. John Murtha only makes the House Democrats’ numbers game harder.) The only reasons for trying to get Republicans involved in fixing the current bills are: a) the false premise that, with a tweak here and a new wrinkle there — tweaks and…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 1:01PM

How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass a Health Care Bill « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…in reserve the first time around, the point is that those members felt they needed to vote against the bill — and the political environment has deteriorated substantially for Democrats since then. Read More Tags: Health care, Jack Murtha, nancy pelosi This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 10:56 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 9:30PM

Another Weird Happening in the World of Hosiery | MOD | Portland … | Lingerie Beauty links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…and bought my first pair on sale, … Read the original here: Another Weird Happening in the World of Hosiery | MOD | Portland … Related Blogs on Harder The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : How Murtha's Death Could … State Lawmakers Try And Make It Harder To Register To Vote : Post … Filing Bankruptcy is Harder | Bankruptcy Related Posts Hosiery makes a comeback | Penn State…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 11:01PM

The Hayride » Murtha’s Funeral Not The Only One Set For This Week… links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…congressional delegation only eclipsed by Mary Landrieu’s Louisiana Purchase antics). That left Pelosi with 218 votes, the barest of margins. Murtha’s death, as the American Spectator’s Philip Klein notes, drops her total down to 217. There were 215 votes against the House bill when it passed in November, so if Cao flips it would still win the day 217-216 if nothing else changed. But of…

Pingback| 2.10.10 @ 11:09AM

The ObamaCare Tragedy | Lux Libertas - Light and Liberty links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…way to defy the voters and impose this monstrosity, and Murtha did cast an “aye” vote when the House approved its version of ObamaCare in November, 220-215 . The American Spectator’s Philip Klein does the math: The one Republican who voted for it–Joseph Cao–has indicated that he would not support the bill a second time around given the weaker language on abortion in the Senate…

Pingback| 2.19.10 @ 9:45PM

How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass a Health Care Bill… | GrassrootsPA links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…ortsTalkPA NewsFlashPA GrassrootsPA Pennsylvania Politics: News, Culture, And Corruption How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass a Health Care Bill… How Murtha’s Death Could Make It Harder to Pass a Health Care Bill… Comment Commandments: 1) No Personal Attacks. (Debating is encouraged, but be respectful). 2) No Sexual Discussion (unless it specifically pertains to a cited story).…

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