The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : And So it Begins...

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The House debate on passage of health care legislation is underway. Right now, Rep. Paul Ryan is presenting a point of order, speaking about the unfunded mandates on states, businesses and indivudals as well as the fiscal consequences of this legislation.

A series of votes are scheduled for tonight, on the rule governing the process, on the Senate bill itself, on a Republican motion to send the bill back to committee, and on the reconciliation bill. Exactly when is hard to say given the way Congressional debates can get delayed far beyond the official schedule.

Right now, it's looking more and more like Democrats have the votes. And while Rep. Bart Stupak is still saying publicly he's a no -- for now -- he is still working on a deal in which President Obama would issue an executive order on abortion, and several news outlets have been saying that he's onboard.

I'll be updating this blog with major developments, but if you want blow-by-blow coverage, you can check out my Twitter feed at: http://twitter.com/philipaklein

View all comments (34) | Leave a comment

Becky| 3.21.10 @ 3:19PM

Wasn't one of the first things Obama did as President was reverse Bush's executive order on banning paying for abortions in foreign countries?

If the President were known to be as pro-life as Stupak, it may be a chance he could take, but we know he isn't and it disappoints me that Stupak would hide behind a presidential promise, which is only as good as who is president.

When the next president takes office, can he reverse this, or will Obama reverse this five minutes after he signs the passed bill?

Gene| 3.21.10 @ 6:25PM

I'm betting on the 5 minutes

danny| 3.21.10 @ 3:28PM

if stupak can find nothing wrong with this piece of crap he might as well go ahead and vote yes. he's no friend of mine.

danny| 3.21.10 @ 3:30PM

i should have said except funding abortion.

Gabrielle| 3.21.10 @ 4:13PM

I hope and pray it passes. I'm proud to be a Democrat and proud of Barack Obama for caring about the American people more than his approval rating.

Ned| 3.21.10 @ 4:33PM

If only he could care a little less me thinks we could do a little better.

JP| 3.21.10 @ 4:13PM

It's 4:10PM, Stupak has pledged his vote. It's all over....or has it just begun?

Gabrielle| 3.21.10 @ 4:16PM

And no one needs to comment on the cost of health care reform to me when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing 700 to 900 billion each year. Useless wars. Wars the US shouldn't even be in.

Ned| 3.21.10 @ 4:30PM

"Useless wars. Wars the US shouldn't even be in. "

I might add, wars that were supported and shared the votes of both political parties.

Bob the Engineer| 3.21.10 @ 5:22PM

Gabrielle,
You ought to get some facts before you make comments like this. The total cost of the wars are in the $900 billion range i.e. since 2003 NOT every year. When you account for all the double counting and phony "savings", the catastrophe known as ObamaCare will cost $2.5 trillion.

Gene| 3.21.10 @ 6:31PM

Gabrielle ,, please Please educate yourself on radical islams ultimate goal ,, worldwide dominance is that what you want?

Don| 3.21.10 @ 7:19PM

Another reminder that half of all people are of below average intelligence.

MarkJ| 3.21.10 @ 4:27PM

Gabrielle,

Important safety tip: It is better to remain silent and think yourself a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Your posts have just "removed all doubt."

Gabrielle| 3.21.10 @ 4:36PM

I don't mind being thought a fool by people who have zero understanding of the health care bill. What are you afraid of?

Bob the Engineer| 3.21.10 @ 5:31PM

What am I afraid of? I'm afraid unemployment will never go down because new employees are now going to be a huge financial liability. I'm afraid that the economy will crater because of all the new borrowing to pay for this catastrophe. I'm afraid of all the crap that is hidden in this catastrophe that we will all learn about the hard way. I'm afraid that my country just committed suicide.

JimE| 3.21.10 @ 11:20PM

Why don't you explain it to us moron? We are afraid of funtional illiterates like running the government. Wait till obama puts your fat ass on a diet.

Gabrielle| 3.21.10 @ 4:37PM

Every "Bush" has to have his war. Every Republican has a Sarah Palin blow up doll in his closet. LOL

Bob the Engineer| 3.21.10 @ 5:01PM

Stupak proves that all those jokes about Yoopers being stupid are true. What a schumck! He didn't even get anything of value for selling out his "principles"!!

danny| 3.21.10 @ 5:41PM

bob, ''principles''? what ''principles''? all stupak has always been about is getting his 15 minutes in the sun.

NGP3| 3.21.10 @ 6:06PM

And every Gabrielle has to have a sugardaddy to take care of her. In this case, it's Uncle Sugar, but we're the ones stuck with the bill. Gabrielle, if it's that wonderful, why aren't the benefits even starting for 4 years? Or did you not notice that?

J.C.Eaton| 3.21.10 @ 6:07PM

Gabby, What are we afraid of? We're afraid of what's in store for a nation whose governing Party espouses a form of secular religion whose primary sacrament is abortion. We're afraid that that Party is populated with moral cyphers and blythe spirits[like you] who don't know or don't care, or both. And you crown your obtuseness with witless banalities about dolls. Does congenital witlessness gallop in your family?

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todd sheen | 4.22.10 @ 6:46AM

health care legislation is always being debated by the democrats and republicans, why not there be peace?

Todd

Torres| 4.25.10 @ 1:14PM

Ryan, born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, is a fifth-generation Wisconsin native currently serving his sixth term in Congress.

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We're afraid that that Party is populated with moral cyphers and blythe spirits[like you] who don't know or don't care, or both. ...

Jason| 8.7.10 @ 2:45PM

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