Liveblogging, Pt. 2: The hurry-up House debate on health care; Update: Bill Passes
There’s less than half an hour left of general debate on the House government health care takeover bill. *Update* More time for general debate. Govtrack says another House cmte gets time.
Next, there will be debate on the Kabuki Stupak abortion funding measure (which GOP leader Boehner exposed in his exchange with Charlie Rangel this afternoon). As I noted in my previous liveblogging post, Boehner got Rangel to admit that there are NO guarantees that Stupak amendment will survive House-Senate negotiations.
After the Stupak amendment vote, there will be debate on the GOP alternative.
Then, the final vote is scheduled late into the night.
Viva transparency!
I am going to be offline for the next few hours speaking at a Foundation for Life event in Sugar Land, Texas.
Our intrepid guest blogger Doug Powers will be here to pick up liveblogging of the House debate.
Right now, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are on parade supporting the move toward single-payer and enshrining health care as a right.
Folks on the Hill now report that 33 Democrats are opposing Pelosicare.
Meantime, chew on this:
Later, Mr. Obama said he recognized that lawmakers were weary. “It’s tempting to say, ‘I’m tired, it’s hard, I’m getting beat up back in the district, it’s just not worth it,’” he said.
But he told Democrats that they must act now. “On a policy basis, if we do not get it done this year, we will not get it done anytime soon,” he said.
The president also singled out Representative Bill Owens, the newly-elected Democrat from a historically Republican district in New York, who was sworn into office just on Friday. Mr. Obama noted that Mr. Owens would support the health care bill even though it might not be popular at home.
“Think about Bill Owens,” Mr. Obama said. “He could have dodged it. But he didn’t. And guess what? Bill is sitting right here.”
TCOT Report responds:
From the start of his campaign on August 10 until an election eve debate on October 30, Owens adamantly opposed the type of public option that is contained in HR 3962, the Pelosi bill the House is voting on later today.
Owens announced qualified support for the “current bill” in an October 30 debate less than 84 hours before the polls opened. His statement of support was lost in the ensuing melodrama when Republican Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race the next day, and then switched allegiances and endorsed him rather than the Conservative Doug Hoffman.
In his statement today lauding Owens, President Obama unwittingly confirmed what had been reported here earlier today–that the voters of the 23rd Congressional District had been misled throughout the campaign by Bill Owens that he opposed the Pelosi public option Health Care bill, and that, had Mr. Owens’ been honest with the voters throughout the entire campaign he would not have won the special election.
******
Good evening all! I’ll be sitting in a bit tonight for Michelle, and we’ll get into it mostly once a vote starts, provided that happens tonight.
I’ve been listening quite a bit to the debate, and I have yet to hear one Rep. yield back the remainder of our money.
According to C-Span, Nancy “Constitutional? Are you serious?” Pelosi’s floor speech is “coming up shortly.” C-Span has a live stream here if you’re not near a TV.
Enough of the “dropped and denied coverage” tripe. Between the top seven private insurance companies and Medicare, the highest percentage of dropped or denied claims comes from the program that’s run by the government.
Update: 9:29 p.m. — The floor speeches continue. John Boehner is doing a good job of outlining the cost of this bill in terms of jobs, mandates, taxes, fines, penalties, etc. After all, where there’s a fine, there must be a penalty for not paying it. It’s clear that Pelosi gave some members too much time to read the bill.
Update 9:51 p.m. — Allahpundit at HotAir is reporting that the vote will be close, so we can be fairly certain that Nancy Pelosi is handing out Dove ice cream bars at a furious pace right now.
Also, Rep. John Dingell from my state of Michigan is spending five minutes serving as an example for term limits while pushing Obama/Pelosicare — but mostly the term limits thing.
10 p.m.: Vote on the Stupak amendment going on now, which would bar federal funds in the health care bill from being used for abortions. Up or down on this could make a difference in the final vote on the entire bill because it might sway fence-sitting Reps. whose vote hinges on whether they’re pro-choice socialist or pro-life socialist.
10:15 p.m.: Vote on the Stupak amendment… looks like it’s passing — no federal funds for abortions (“with some exceptions”) should the entire bill pass. So far 64 Dems voting for it.
10:37 p.m.: The “Republican alternative” is going down along party lines, save for one Repub voting with the Dems. Vote on the entire bill should be up shortly.
11 p.m.: Final vote going on now.
11:08 p.m.: Dems erupt as only people who just got a lot closer to getting their hands on a good chunk of the U.S. economy can. “Free health care that costs well over a trillion dollars” passed, 220-215. One Republican, Anh Cao, voted yes.
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Hey you have the Rush talking points down pat. Good for you. And I would very much like to agree, but I don’t think your ballot counts for squat anymore. Hope you’re right, though.
swede, I am not talking about the death of Conservativism. I am talking about the reclaiming of this country BY the Conservatives.
Problem is….Campaign Finance “Reform” hasn’t been overturned completely yet.
I know what you are saying, and I think the vote or a recall is the way to deal with it, but I lost a lot of belief in our systems not only when that anti-First Amendment bilge was passed, but when it was not completely overturned by SCOTUS.
Not really. Haven’t even listened to him in years. While I agree with his politics for the most part, I find him egotistical and abrasive.
I agree with you and fg. My point is the means and the importance of maintaining civility. Great article at Rasmussen last Monday
The majority in this country are conservative – not republican. I also fear the damage now being done may be severe, but firmly believe the tide is turning. Just hope it’s not too late.
Rep. Eric Cantor is now saying 35 Dems are voting no. It’ll be close.
This just disgusts me.The rally,phone calls,tea parties and town hall meetings have done nothing.Like someone said they don’t care.Everytime they are going to vote no on something Obama & Pelosi use our tax payer money to bribe them.I don’t see how this will be overturned if passed.Just like Social Security.I have lost faith in the system,especially since I live in liberal Western Wa. and everytime we have a vote on something that they want passed,they always magically find ballots in King County.With Acorn and the like around it’s very tough to have anything fair.
If I only had a DC-10 now…. /vbg/
So if the Stupak amendment fails, will that kill the bill?
Democrats have spent 36 years making it their purpose in life to kill off the unborn. Wouldn’t it be delicious irony for the memory of those slaughtered children to kill Obamacare?
…particularly since the left has used Kennedy’s death to suggest why it should be passed.
Why doesn’t entire GOP just vote Present on the Stupak amendment? Should it fail, make those Blue Dogs be on record as supporting that horrid abortion premium if they decide to vote for the bill. There’s no way it’ll be included in the final piece of legislation that goes to Barry, anyway.
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I have defended against the foreign enemies, however it appears the real enemies of the Constitution of the United States are domestic. Yes, it may appear the pendulum is swinging, but a overwhelming number of voters these days are leeches. The more entitlements you offer them, the more votes the domestic enemies receive. If this “Health Care” bill passes, it will not be undone, no matter who wins in 2010 and beyond.
Where’d everybody go?
I asked “why”, because you seem to think that a viable way of changing things is through some type of insurrection, something other than through the ballot box. C’mon, be realistic, please.
Welcome to the Democratic platform. They spend OUR money; redistrube it to the “hands out” crowd, in exchange for votes keeping them in power. Thats their entire game.
If we can’t change the health care bill, then we need to change Congress!
Find out who is running against the Representatives who vote for this bill, and start supporting these candidates with time and money NOW!!!
Let’s send a message to Senators by immediately showing how hard we are working to vote people out of office who vote for socialized medicine!
Well not yet. But with birth rates as they are in different groups give it about 20 years, especially if the traitors in Washington give amnesty to illegals and their families, we will be.
*Predicting 234-210 for passage of Medicrap; Like with Cap & Tax out of the House, then more information will flow out to the populace about how horrid this legislation is; We must then concentrate on the Senate to peel off a few Dems and let all this stench simmer and stew for a few months; If all that doesn’t work, then it’s time for a full-on TAX REVOLT!
Conservatives are the majority. That is realistic. All this gloom and doom and anarchy talk is not helpful or realistic.
Even if this steaming pile of dung passes tonight it will never get through the senate in anything like its present form. Congresscritters have one thing in mind – reelection. Voting against the people who voted for them will not get them reelected.
We are not “so screwed”, unless we give up.
*Meant 224-210 in favor!
Passes.
With a Republican vote no less! (Probably Cao in La.)
Yeah bipartisanship!!!
I’m sick,sick,sick! We need to get these pieces of garbage out of congress.
O.M.G.
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot
Which Republican decided not to get re-elected next year?
Screw them all.
Hmmm… maybe the one from a 75% Democratic district that is only in there because he ran against some guy with wads of money in his freezer?
God, I hope Pelosi’s nose falls off.
OK fellow patriots, it’s time to work to unseat every single one of these dimocrap traitors. These fools know or care not what they do….now is the time for a full march on D.C. with torches and pitchforks along with some public stocks!!
1 stupid GOP vote for it…who is it I want the name!!! Joseph Cao from Louisiana…flood his office on Monday with the single word “Traitor”…..
OK now onward to working on the Senators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We must make it clear that they are gone if they don’t reject this piece of crap….
10:07 PM CST on November 7,2009 – The Day America Died.
The Dems are not afraid of legislation that most Americans do not want. Me thinks Soros probably has his checkbook out promising even if you don’t get re-elected, I got ya covered. This truly is bizarro land.
Or the day they woke up. This is going to hit the fan hard.
I don’t think I’ve ever followed daily developments in the House on a vote this close since Bill Clinton was impeached.
Okay, who’s got the Yeas list for HR 3962… searching for the Roll Call #886…
Dana Walsh is running against Nancy Pelosi in my district.
http://www.DanaWalshForCongress.com
Who is running against Democrats who voted for this stupid bill in your district?
We need to show our support for opposition candidates NOW!
There have been several comments about hoping the Senate will see the light and not vote for it.
There are 60 Dims in the Senate, peel off 9, and Dingy Harry will still force it through using reconciliation and 51 votes.
The ONLY way to keep it from passing in the Senate is to peel off more than 9 Dims.
On HotAir, someone pointed out that Jindal appointed Cao.
Anyone see a trend here?
Joseph Cao
Dede Scuzzyfavor
Both appointed by “Party Leaders”
So, who really has to go?
The “Party Leaders”
’nuff said
‘night
Urge your GOP Senator to follow Oklahoma Senator Coburn’s lead!
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/07/coburn-plans-to-read-the-bill/
Rep Cao contact info…flood his office with the word traitor…
House Seal
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
*
2113 Rayburn HOB
*
Washington, DC 20515
* p. (202) 225-6636
* f. (202) 225-1988
NEW ORLEANS OFFICE
*
4640 So. Carrollton Ave., Suite 120
*
New Orleans, LA 70119
* p. (504) 483-2325
* f. (504) 483-7944
*On to the Senate to peel a few of them off; It can be done; After all, it just squeeked by in the House, and bipartisanship was aligned against Medicrap!
*The economy will go further into a tailspin over time on this news and certain Dems in the Senate will run from this disaster.
side note Rep. Cao not born in America….
Outstanding. If we cannot hammer every Democrat who has now voted for Obamacare, the bailouts, and Cap and Tax then shame on us.
They are ripe for the taking.
Time to get to work on 2010. We need solid candidates who emphasize FREEDOM and LIBERTY. The young voters need to understand what is being done to them. They and the seniors will overwhelm the middle.
I was going to post something here,
but I’m pretty sure I’d get TOS-ed,
so off to FOMM I go …
No doubt those first 8 years he lived outside the US made him the evil communist he is today.
I
It’s unbelievable the lack of character some of these dems have…they can be bought and paid for with little resistance. How do they look themselves in the mirror…spineless, cheap, un-American whores is the nicest way i can think of saying it at this point.
Question I ask myself many times…”how is it we let these un-American socialist pigs get the power they have”…the answer generally is “the right does not fight to win, almost like they fight harder not to piss the left off, than they do to keep America, America.”
I’m so sick of these spineless, whiny, cry babies, I best leave it at that.
HR 3962 (Roll No. 887) was the actual House bill (still waiting on a posting by house.gov):
http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2009&rollnumber=887
On agreeing to the Stupak anti-abortion funding amendment: (Roll No. 884)
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll884.xml
To quoute that Ol’ Saint Nick song, “We’re making a list, checking it twice, gonna’ find out who’s naughty or nice…”
One date to mark for all:
November 2, 2010
Louisanna’s Congressman Anh Cao, the “one” of the 220.
http://josephcao.house.gov/
Per his own website:
There’s still hope. Maybe Texas will secede and those who believe in freedom can flee there.
Agreed. This is the best thing long term. They just told the voters F you, we know what’s best. It’ll turn around and bite ‘em.
Agreed Hammer, but we have to work our tails off to make sure that we have candidates of integrity who will provide a stark contrast with the Democrat incumbent.
In other words, he sold out to Obama’s promises.
now more than ever we need to work within our States to bring forth 10th Amendment resolutions to tell the federal government to pound sand!!! I’ve spoken to 2 OK State Senators who are working to mitigate the hate crime bill and the health care bill…One of the helped bring forth OK’s 10th Amendment…OK is ready and willing to follow Texas and lead if Texas can’t get its collective act together…
Cao just outed himself for the RINO he is. Hope the party is not planning on helping him get re-elected in the future.
As for passage of the bill, I am sure there is a great rejoicing among the freeloaders in this country who will never have to pay a dime for it.
On November 7th, 2009 at 11:42 pm, WaterBoyz said:
Cao is a warning bell for Jindal’s aspirations to the Presidency.
While Jindal is a competent governor, he is a PROCESS politician like Newt Gingrich.
Short on principles, long on vanity.
Anyone who is supporting Bobby Jindal for a GOP Presidential run – think twice. CAO is a big indication of what Jindal REALLY is.
Did you see where Owens (NY-23) broke 4 of his campaign positions with 24 hours of winning?
How is a politician held accountable for his/her actions?
I’ll pass on Texas. I still have the means to resist and I intend to do precisely that.
United States Military Code of Conduct
Article 2
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
It’s not over.
It is those people who are called “Entitledist” that are ruining America.
Gimme
Gimme
Gimme
My letter to Michigan Congressman Mark Schauer:
Do not be surprised when this guy becomes a Democrat in the next few days. Since he started with little party, and almost no ideological, connections to the Republicans, I have no doubt the Democrats made him a substantial offer to vote with them.
Dede Scozzafava=Anh Cao
How’s that strategy working, Newt?
12/07/1941
09/11/2001
11/07/2009
Correct, Vikisoup, the fight enters a new phase.
*Cao is not the problem; He has always been a RINO; He is but a flea amongst a swarm of locusts, and will likely be a one term wonder!
*The Senate probably won’t take up the bill until 2010, an election year, and P-BO’s in-box of incalculable headaches he will never have the right answer for are reasons to press on and be hopeful.
Thank you Nancy Pelosi.
You have just told me that there is no need to have a health care provider or insurance. You have in essence been judge and jury. You tried and convicted me of having committed the capitol offense of living too long. Your verdict – just go sit in the corner and die. You have told me I can not qualify to receive any medical treatment(s).
Maybe they can build a debtors prison in LA with stimulus money for those who will be fined $250,000 and put in prison for 5 years for “choosing” not to buy PelosiCARE.
They can honor the new prison after Mr. Cao.
“The Anh Cao Healthcare Reeducation Internment Center”
Next: Hit your senators will phone calls daily against this disaster! Send the same email every day. Make a firestorm they will never forget. This administration is evil and must be stopped. OBAMA HAS ALREADY SAID HIS GOAL IS TO GET RID OF PRIVATE INSURANCE. It’s no secret at all. He’s on record. And arch-liberal Robert Reich has already described how single-payer will kill innovation, cost eveyone more, and kill off the older citizens sooner. We cannot have that.
ALRIGHT, PEOPLE—Call every day. Send the same email everyday, if you have to. Unleash a firestorm on the senate. It’s down to whoever has the stamina to outlast the other side. We will have that stamina!
Here are the Democrat Nays on HR3962 (39):
Jason Altmire (PA-4)
John Adler (NJ-3)
Rick Boucher (VA-9)
Allen Boyd (FL-2)
Brian Baird (WA-3)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Dan Boren (OK-2)
John Boccieri (OH-16)
Bobby Bright (AL-2)
Ben Chandler (KY-6)
Travis Childers (MS-1)
Lincoln Davis (TN-4)
Artur Davis (AL-7)
Chet Edwards (TX-17)
Bart Gordon (TN-6)
Parker Griffith (AL-5)
Tim Holden (PA-17)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-1)
Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
Larry Kissell (NC-8)
Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24)
Frank Kratovil Jr. (MD-1)
Mike McIntyre (NC-7)
Jim Matheson (UT-2)
Jim Marshall (GA-8)
Charlie Melancon (LA-3)
Betsy Markey (CO-4)
Eric Massa (NY-29)
Michael E. McMahon (NY-13)
Walt Minnick (ID-1)
Scott Murphy (NY-20)
Glenn Nye (VA-2)
Collin C. Peterson (MN-7)
Mike Ross (AR-4)
Ike Skelton (MO-4)
Heath Shuler (NC-11)
John Tanner (TN-8)
Gene Taylor (MS-4)
Harry Teague (NM-2)
The name by name roll call of the 2202-15 vote at the House Clerk link:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
Thank you for the list Edouard!
Now, let’s create the list of candidates running against each Representative who voted in favor of the health care bill!
Who is running in your district?
CA-18 Cardoza was undecided right til the end, i.e; waiting for Repub cover, but voted yes. Opponent: Mike Berryhill, longtime farmer. District voted for Bush in 2004. I think he’s vulnerable. People here are mad. He also voted for cap & tax.
Adjacent district CA-11 McNerney, district voted by 10 points for Bush in 2004 & 2000. Strong opponent – Brad Goehring , Lodi vineyardist, already has $650,000 campaign funds to McNerney’s $750,000.
These 2 are part of the 84 Dems in districts that either voted for McCain in 2008 or Bush in 2004 that Rove said we should target or that they should be worried after VA & NJ.
Looking at that picture of Pelosi, shouldn’t she be holding up a sickle as well?
When do we start calling each other “comerade”?
Or is that “comrade”? I think this is right. Too tired to check.
I say, Screw Congress…we’ve spent enough phone calls, emails, and protests only to have it fall on deaf ears. They will be voted out, but now it is time to flood the liberal media with your letters and faxes. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, The New York Times, Associated Press, USA Today, all of them! LETTERS and FAXES should be the method used to snap their heads around. (Horton Hears a Who, anyone?) Write the media with your opinion of disgust for the dark-of-night passage of this bill and let them know “it becomes law OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!” Does anyone have a complete and current media list to share? We need address, phone, and fax.
I, too am outraged that they voted at midnight Saturday, just like they did on cap & tax.
When I called the 5th time Saturday, I got the office closed voice mail. I stated that no votes should be taken when constituents could not reach their representatives to express their opinion.
If their office is only open 8-5, M-F, then that is the only time they should be voting.
Democracy in the dark of night. They must be so proud of this legislation that they didn’t want it to see the light of day.
List of media websites, etc.
http://conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm
and here
http://conservativeusa.org/megalink.htm
I am deeply disappointed and for the first time in my life ashamed to be an American.
I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to find the right, conservative candidate to remove Gabrielle Giffords from Congress next November. I swear, I will become her worst political nightmare as I actively work for the campaign of her opponent. She voted for this health care atrocity, and the Cap and Tax bill as well. She will regret this evening.
OK,
The plan for 2010 is this; I will not support any party that does not have as a plank in its platform the repeal of all “Midnight Legislation” passed by the current Congress.
Any candidate not running with a written contractual document to resign should they fail to remove the Pelosi/Reid/Baucus Health care legislation and adapt one that is not borne by taxpayers or administered by the Federal government. They should similarly promise to reduce the debt.
I’d like to have them promise legislation that all prospective Congressional members and Presidential candidates pass all questions to the standard Citizenship exam given to prospective US citizens as well as tests in economics and geography (the SAT’s AP tests will do fine). They should be fiscally conservative and favor much smaller government except for Defense.
If they don’t support these kinds of changes, they don’t represent me, and they sure as heck don’t represent Texas.
We lost this battle, but it doesn’t mean we’ve lost the war. It’s on to the senate to do battle there.
“We lost this battle”
This was not a battle. You guys are framing this House thing in a most bizarre way. You are allowing Pelosi the the left to control you and apparently your emotions.
This accomplishes nothing. Why are you buying into Pelosi’s and Obama’s definition and framing of this?
Pelosi is doing exactly what Pelosi was and will continue to do.
Vampire bats, cockroaches and burglars come out at night as they do not do well in the light of day. Am I being so bold, so crude as to compare our Congress to Vampire bats, cockroaches and burglars? Yes I am.
My my no sooner do I make my post than I receive this via E-mail-and at I time I am not feeling terribly generous: Perhaps The Honorable Newt Gingrich will have The Honorable Joesph
Cao as a guest. November 11 would be Armistice Day for we of the Old and Ugly.
—
Gee, that’s a nice hammer you have in your hand. Why don’t you stick it up your. . . cram it down your throat?
I like the way Prez Obama uses first names, like Bill. Why lookie here, “Bill is sitting right here”. Bill, my long lost friend, Bill, my ole buddy from down home in where-ever land, Bill, whose name I will soon forget because I got what I wanted from him. . .good ole Bill.
Don’t forget the slimy snakes.
I don’t know if I can ever salute the flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance and mean it, ever again. something died in this country for me. I feel lost. I don’t understand how such an insane bill could ever pass. Liberty has been destroyed. It will just be a long time before the final death throws. It all just seems so inevitable and useless now.