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Health Care Morning Roundup

President Obama has delayed his Asia trip by three days until March 21, which would give the House some extra time to pass the health care bill.

ABC’s Jake Tapper writes that the delay “speak(s) volumes about how the votes are not yet there for health care reform.”

House Whip Jim Clyburn predicts a vote within the next 10 days.

Bart Stupak tells Fox: “”I don’t see how they’re going to get the votes to pass healthcare, no matter what procedure they use, if they want to do it by March 18th.” He said that his abortion concerns were not resolved, and that he wouldn’t settle for a promise for the Senate to deal with the issue down the road.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he isn’t negotiating on abortion provisions in the bill.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus says on MSNBC that he “can’t support this bill” because of several provisions, such as one that bars illegal immigrants from puchasing health insurance on government exchanges with their own money. While Republicans were touting this as another “no” vote, NBC’s Mark Murray points to another part of the interview in which Gutierrez also said he would settle for a promise from Obama to take up a comprehensive immigration bill this year.

A new poll of New Jersey voters finds that “only 22 percent say Congress should pass the current reform proposals, while 68 percent want lawmakers to start over.” Perhaps the numbers will firm up the opposition of Rep. John Adler, a New Jersey Democrat who voted “no” the first time and is under pressure back home to do the same.

View all comments (4) |

ncatty| 3.12.10 @ 12:37PM

Now we have the "Gutierrez Gouge." I'll vote for your healthcare bill if you loosen up on illegal immigration. I hope my representative, Mel Watt (D)(NC) can extract some goodies too.

Kyle Smith| 3.12.10 @ 1:06PM

There is no way Gutierrez will vote NO on Obamacare. He is one of the Hispanic Leader of the Chicago Thugs. One thing I predict is that if Stupak's group caves, it will be on a Saturday or Sunday; just like Ben Nelson.

They pick the days that people are out shopping to submit to the pressures of Democrat leadership. They passed the House Bill on a Saturday in November. Then, a month after Lindsay Graham said Obamacare was DOA in the Senate, they made the Cornhusker Kickback pro-choice deal on a Saturday. On that day, "pro-life" Ben Nelson decided it was wise to attend a closed door meeting to discuss right to life issues, with leadership including the rabidly "pro-choice" Barbara Boxer. The Senate passed their bill with legislative tricks (manager's ammendment) on Christmas Eve.

I hope Stupak doesn't cave, but if he does, what will the story be this time? How will he claim to have achieved middle ground with pro-abortion progressives?

More Blog Posts by Philip Klein

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/12/health-care-morning-roundup

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