Two original "NO" votes - Baird (WA) and Altmire (PA) - might be warming to health care reform bill.

[jefferson_dem]

Asked by Crowley whether he would vote against a final bill after determining it did not met his personal criteria even if that vote meant that one of the president’s top domestic agenda items would not pass, Baird did not hesitate: “Yes.”

But Baird quickly sought to clarify. The retiring Democrat said it would be “a tragedy” if some type of health care reform was not enacted. “And so that’s the choice. I don’t think this bill is what I would like to see us do if I ran the universe, as it were, but I don’t get to do that so the status quo is unsustainable.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/07/retiring-dem-gop-doesnt-want-to-dance-on-health-care/?fbid=B63NQ7tPGZw

* A bit more health care movement: Rep Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, who voted No the first time, strongly suggested on Fox News today that he’s leaning towards Yes on the Senate bill.

“I need to see the reconciliation package, but there’s no question in my mind the Senate bill was much stronger than House bill on cost containment,” Altmire said. He insisted he wasn’t leaning towards Yes, but added: “I think we have a much better product to work with.”

* But: Rep John Adler of New Jersey, also a former No, suggested he’s likely to stay a No. “I’m not sure the bills coming through the House and Senate really address health care reform,” he said.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/terrorism/sunday-roundup-12/

[Cha]

1. Ye-ah..if a lot of us "ran the Universe" it would

not be the Health Care Reform Bill..but, thankfully those who are supporting this know that that's not the way things get done when there aren't enough votes for the ultimate HRC.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Democratic Fence-Sitters Hint at Possible Support of Health Bill (The Hill)

Democratic Fence-Sitters Hint at Possible Support of Health Bill
March 7, 2010, 1:06 p.m.
By Emily Pierce and Paul Singer
Roll Call Staff

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reps. Brian Baird (D-Wash.) and Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who voted against the House health care reform bill last fall, refused to be pinned down Sunday on their willingness to approve a Senate-passed bill. But they gave Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reasons to be optimistic that she may be able to pull off passage of a massive reform bill this month.

Appearing on Sunday talk shows to discuss the fate of the bill, Altmire, Baird and Rep. John Adler (D-N.J.) declined to say how they would vote on the Senate measure and a separate budget reconciliation bill designed to address House concerns with the Senate-passed legislation, but Altmire and Baird appeared open to supporting the package.

In order to secure passage of both measures, Pelosi will likely need some of the 39 Democrats who voted against the measure last fall to support the Senate bill. Senate language on abortion funding threatens to rob Pelosi of several anti-abortion votes that she secured in November.

Altmire, on “Fox News Sunday,” dismissed the idea that he would be flip-flopping on health care if he voted for the Senate measure after voting against the House bill.

“Using the word ‘switch’ implies that this is the same bill. As I outlined, this is a very different finished product than where we were the first time we voted on this in November,” Altmire said.

He added, “There’s no question in my mind the Senate bill was much stronger than the House bill on cost-containment, and it did away with some of the things in the House bill that I was concerned about.”

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Baird said he still sees problems with the legislation. But he also hinted that he might vote for the bill because it is better than not having health care reform at all.

<SNIP>

http://www.rollcall.com/news/43919-1.html?type=printer_friendly

[AlinPA]

13. A popular judge (R) is running against Altmire in the fall. If he votes against the HC bill,

Democrats in this part of PA will not work for him and voters will stay home.

[jefferson_dem]

14. Thanks for the field report.

I was not very familiar with Altmire but he seemed like a fairly decent fella (for a blue dog) based on what I saw today. It will be hard for any Dem in a "red" district anyway but Altmire can kiss his seat goodbye if he does the wrong thing on health care. Keep the heat on...

[AlinPA]

17. See post #12 below.

[IndianaGreen]

3. The correct terminology is 'Health Insurance Reform' bill

We will continue to get the same crappy care from the for-profit industry that we always got, except that we will have millions of new people sharing our misery.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Millions of Americans will be able to AFFORD health care for perhaps the first time in their lives.

Millions of Americans will no longer be denied coverage by some industry scumbag who's trying to win a larger bonus by denying those in "high risk" categories....

And on and on...

Seems their benefit will be your misery...as you sit comfortably, ridiculing their self-interests from behind the keyboard because the bill is not pure enough to satisfy your lofty standards. Carry on.

[denimgirly]

7. "Congratulations, everyone get's a free BMW....but now give me the money for the car...or ELSE!"

Cenk Uygur gave this great analogy. Unless there is true cost containment then this mandated structure, although good for people with high-risk conditions, is a godsend for those republicans seeking wins this midterm -- no one likes mandates. Public Option (at the very least) is a cost saving measure, not gimmicks like half-baked watchdogs to control the levels of rate increases each year. Selling mandates without smoething like a public option is suicidal for elections.

If you think people will be able to afford healthcare you are dellusional or misinformed.

[jefferson_dem]

10. dellusional (sic) or misinformed, huh?

Oy. Ballsy introduction. I won't bother to set you straight; not worth it.

But I will say "welcome to DU"! Enjoy your stay. :hi:

[IndianaGreen]

11. Using the car analogy, we are being forced to buy a Yugo at BMW prices

That's the ultimate outcome!

[golfguru]

15. 30 millions will get HC, and other millions will pay more to

the health insurance corporations. Indiana Green is correct, this
is Health INSURANCE reform, not Health Care reform.

[depakid]

18. This legislation won't make a dent in health care bankruptcies- and will force tens of millions

into high deductible, high copay junk insurance that they can't afford to use.

Nice try- but on balance, the misery spreading belongs to the supporters of this lobbyist written bill.

[jefferson_dem]

19. Thanks.

For making my point.

[denimgirly]

6. At least if u buy Insurer's stocks you will be in good shape to make money too.

You may suffer and die under the new bill (and forced to get coverage) but at least you can die with a little more money in your pocket from the rising share prices on the stock market.

[AnnieBW]

5. I see that my Dad is getting to Jason Altmire...

My parents know Jason Altmire and his wife professionally, because his wife works for AARP. When they found out that Jason voted no on HCR, my Dad called his office an pitched a fit.

If he REALLY wanted to scare Jason, he'd have put my Mom on the phone. :D

[Jennicut]

8. Good for your Dad!

Outside pressure is always good. :)

[AlinPA]

12. Altmire is a UPMC lobbyist. nt

[AnnieBW]

16. Yeah, he knows where his bread is buttered

He's pretty much owned by UPMC. But, it could be worse. He could be owned by Wellpoint or United Health Care.

[backscatter712]

9. My bet is Pelosi has a few congresscritters in reserve.

That's how it works - Pelosi will do the vote counts, and if she's got room to spare, she'll tell a few blue dogs that she's whipped, but might be in trouble in their own districts, that they're free to vote how they want, so they can play the rebel.

I'm reasonably confident that Pelosi will be able to whip enough votes to pass health care reform.