Rep. Massa's Early Exit From House May Ease Passage of Health Care Bill

[cory777]

Source: Christian Science Monitor

The planned resignation of Rep. Eric Massa (D) of New York on Monday may ultimately help fulfill President Obama’s goal of passing healthcare reform soon.

The freshman congressman voted against the bill when it passed the House in November by the narrow margin of 220 to 215. Mr. Massa was one of 39 Democrats to vote no.

He said he favored a single-payer healthcare system, and felt the House bill did not go far enough to bring down healthcare costs. Massa’s departure will eliminate one of the “no” votes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to overcome as she seeks support to pass the Senate version of reform.

Massa is leaving Congress sooner than he had originally planned – at 5 p.m. on Monday, his office confirmed Friday.

Read more: http://www.truthout.org/rep-massas-early-exit-from-house-may-ease-passage-health-care-bill57417

[bluestateguy]

1. Perhaps Obama could interest other no voting Democrats in some nice ambassadorships about now

nt

[Change Happens]

4. Stupak to Trinidad?

[beac]

7. Stupak should be our Ambassador to the Taliban. n/t

[DFLforever]

2. Nancy really lowers the boom when she needs the votes

Bless her.

[cutlassmama]

3. she's good like that. n/t

[No Elephants]

5. Yes, let's rejoice over the departure of the very few Dems who held out for a real public option.

After all, had there been more of them, we might have actually gotten a good bill.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

6. +1

I say we purge all liberal congresspeople so we can get more centrists blue dogs in there. We need more Republican policy!!!

[karynnj]

8. What is more unseemly is that people are ignoring the sad reason - a reoccurance of cancer

and they are speaking of the (I think) still unsubstantiated rumors of ethics violations.

They would likely have needed a huge number of liberal Democrats - more than could likely have been elected even in 2006 or 2008 - to get single payer.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. How is this late breaking news? I posted this yesterday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7852766