Pelosi: House lacks votes to OK Senate health bill

[tekisui]

Source: AP/Yahoo!

WASHINGTON – Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she lacks the votes to quickly move the Senate's sweeping health overhaul bill through the House, a potentially devastating blow to President Barack Obama's signature issue.

Pelosi, D-Calif., made the comment to reporters after House Democrats held a closed-door meeting at which participants vented frustration with the Senate's massive version of the legislation.

Her concession meant there was little hope for a White House-backed plan to quickly push the Senate-approved health bill through the House, followed by a separate measure making changes sought by House members, such as easing the Senate's tax on higher-cost health plans. Such an approach would be "problematic," she said.

"In its present form without any changes I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate bill in the House," Pelosi said, adding, "I don't see the votes for it at this time."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100121/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul;_ylt=ArRpxleRPnjZqF8ME4A1qrms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNuZTh0ajU5BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTIxL3VzX2hlYWx0aF9jYXJlX292ZXJoYXVsBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDcGVsb3NpaG91c2Vs

[Blue Owl]

1. Yawn.

This shit is getting ridiculous.

Fucking ridiculous.

Get a goddamned spine you wimps.

[tekisui]

3. The Democratic Party is infected with weakness.

[Baclava]

16. They were looking for an "out"....and MA provided it

That's what I see

[SPedigrees]

2. I hope every one of the Massachusetts voters who put Brown into office

goes into medical bankruptcy. They brought it on themselves and on all their fellow Americans. Never have I felt such contempt for other New England voters.

[tekisui]

4. You are mistaken to blame the voters.

The candidate didn't reach out to them. You can't take votes for granted.

[SPedigrees]

14. If the MA voters don't know the difference between a popularity contest

and the serious issues facing us all in regard to health care, then they deserve a mountain of blame.

[Winterblues]

5. They have Health Care, why should they worry about us?

:shrug: Self Centered is the best description for the folks that voted Brown...

[flyarm]

12. you were not going to get health care through this bill either..stop deluding yourself! eom

[SPedigrees]

15. They have private insur from for-profit insur cos.

Believe me they are just as likely as any of us to have a claim for life-saving treatment denied because of pre-existing hangnails. And I hope it happens to everyone of those who voted for the republican.

RIP Senator Kennedy. Glad you're not able to see your legacy shredded by your former constituents.

[BlueDemKev]

9. Amen.....

Take a look at at how Brown's victory has fired up the conservative base so much, money if POURING into the Republican coffers right now.....get ready to hear House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and a bunch of tea-bagging idiots running this country.

Thanks again, Massachusetts. And for those of you "progressives" who voted for Brown because the Senate bill was too "weak" for you, did you actually think that voting for a right-winger is going to force a "stronger" bill thru Congress.


Scott Brown's Win Boosts GOP Enthusiasm, Recruiting Efforts Nationwide
Font size Print E-mail Share Leave Comment Posted by Stephanie Condon
(AP)Rep. Mike Pence, the no. 3 Republican in the House, is now being urged to run for Senate in Indiana -- just one of the many challenging races this year that Republicans suddenly feel more optimistic about in the aftermath of Scott Brown's win in the Massachusetts special election on Tuesday.

Pence will meet with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn today, Politico reports. Cornyn has been urging Pence to take on Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh this November, a match up that once would have been considered an extreme long shot for Republicans.

Pence has reportedly dismissed talk of the Senate run, but now Republicans are rethinking their chances all over the country.

"Virtually any state where you have a Democrat incumbent running for re-election, there is an opportunity again," Cornyn told the New York Times.

Republicans are stepping up recruiting efforts for potential challengers to Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Patty Murray of Washington, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Barbara Milkulski of Maryland, Congressional Quarterly reports.

There is new momentum for House Republicans as well.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions told the Hill newspaper potential GOP candidates are showing renewed interest in running this year.

"This is a huge selling point for Republicans to get in these races against Democrats," Sessions reportedly said Wednesday. "We have had continuously a large inquiry and, in fact, today a number of people are finalizing their decisions."

The GOP may even take on House seats in Massachusetts, currently all held by Democrats, Sessions said.

"Recruitment has not only gone well up until this point, but I think it will go on steroids, henceforth," Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), vice-chairman of the NRCC, told the Hill.

Republican committees are also reaching out to donors with more vigor. On Wednesday, the NRCC held a tele-town hall with 100,000 people, Congressional Quarterly reports.

[MadHound]

6. Well that might just be a good thing

After all, it will be better to have no bill than this perversion of "reform" that is the Senate bill.

[tekisui]

7. The Senate bill is absolute shit and should die.

What the fuck is wrong with Senate Dems that they can't get anything done before trying.

I can tell now, Harry Reid is going to be on a loop saying 'We don't have the votes' for the next few years.

[AlinPA]

8. Harry Reid will be gone after the next election. NV is going to kick him out.

Too bad we don't have a candidate there.

[BlueDemKev]

10. This shows the Democratic Party is incapable of governing.....

There is no excuse for House liberals not to pass the Senate bill, which can be amended later. They're upset because the bill doesn't exempt the labor unions from having to pay a tax on their Cadillac health-care plans??? So for that, health care reform dies??? What do they think is going to happen, that suddenly Congress will now pass a much stronger health care bill? The Senate bill is the best the Democrats can get right now and they should freakin' TAKE IT!!!

[flyarm]

11. good! that bill is shit! Start over Nancy..and do the damn thing right ..and no more sell outs to

the corporate fuckers!

Get us ..health and care..

not that piece of shit welfare for the corporate health industry big boys.

[BlueDemKev]

13. Oh sure, yeah....

....as if the House and Senate are now suddenly going to pass a bill establishing a single-payer system now. Would you please be serious? The Senate bill will now have to be watered-down even further to get Snowe's vote.