Hoyer: House vote may be pushed back

[DearAbby]

WASHINGTON - House Democrats acknowledged they don't yet have the votes to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system, and signaled they may push back the vote until Sunday or early next week.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters in a conference call Friday that the make-or-break vote on President Barack Obama's push to make health coverage part of the social safety net could face delay. Democrats were originally hoping to pass the bill on Saturday.

The apparent problem: Democrats have yet to resolve intraparty disputes over abortion funding and illegal immigrants' access to health care. They cleared one hurdle Friday when liberals supporting a government-run Medicare-for-all system withdrew their demand for a floor vote.

The White House said Obama remains hopeful of getting an overhaul bill this year and plans to go to Capitol Hill on Saturday to try to rally support.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33717968/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

[Jennicut]

1. Abortion funding and illegal immigrants? Geez. Blue Dogs strike again.

[DearAbby]

2. Yeep

Delay, delay, then delay some more.

[sandnsea]

8. The Hispanic Caucus is demanding the legislation

They insist undocumented workers be allowed to use the insurance exchange. I understand their point, but this is the wrong place to make the case. There's also no reason to do anything more on abortion than the Hyde Amendment, which I think is acceptable to the Blue Dogs but I could be wrong on that.

This is the time to get basic health care passed, not fix all the cultural battles of the last 30 years.

[Jennicut]

10. Unbelievable. Everyone has a freakin pet issue.

JUST PASS THE DAMN THING ALREADY! Okay, I feel better know that I shouted on the internet.

[Xipe Totec]

11. I think the concern is that an immigrant litmust test

can easily turn into a racial test, where US citizens who happen to be brown are singled out for proof of legal status, while US citizens of other hues are just assumed to be here legally.

[sandnsea]

12. No, they want undocumented workers to be able to buy insurance

It makes sense because it is illogical to be outraged at them for driving up costs in border towns, but give them no alternative to purchase health coverage. Participating in the exchange or the public option won't be much different than applying for social security or a tax refund. I don't see how anybody will even be identified by their skin color on a piece of paper.

At the same time, I would rather give up this one thing and address the issue in immigration reform.

[Xipe Totec]

14. identified by their skin color on a piece of paper?

you got it all wrong.

They're identified by their skin color when they request the piece of paper.

[sandnsea]

16. You can't deny anybody a federal application

of any sort. Any verification of citizenship comes much later in the process and is done with paper. Birth certificate, ss, drivers license, etc.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. damn!!

[Laf.La.Dem.]

3. Republicans want the vote to pushed back - SO -

The Democrats push back the vote (sounds fair - the Republicans would do the same for Democrats) :mad:

[FBaggins]

7. No point in blaming them at this point

Right now we're having trouble just getting Democrats together. The Rs do't need to ask for anything... just sit back and watch the show.

Maybe there are some "moderate" Rs that we can reach out to? Just go around the Democrats who are holding this hostage and offer some pork or committee seats or something to Republicans willing to vote their conscience instead of the party line.

And, of course, you take those carrots from the Democrats who aren't with you.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. Eeeeeekkk! Everyone wants better health care and they are pissing it away.

Get moving and do the right thing, people! Call your rep's and tell them to vote to pass this bill and tell their friends in the senate that they better do the same if they value their constituent's health and their own jobs!

[FBaggins]

5. Is there someone up there who thinks

that pretending to have the votes is enough to convince some fence-sitters to jump down and support it?

It's getting painful to watch them act like they're ready to go and then back off (all the while trying to spin that nothing really changed).

The apparent problem: Democrats have yet to resolve intraparty disputes over abortion funding and illegal immigrants' access to health care.

That's going to be a tough one either way. Didn't the President call claims that abortion or illegals would be covered "lies"?

[sandnsea]

9. Yep

And now the Hispanic Caucus and women's groups are trying to make a liar out of him.

[joeycola]

6. Hoyer acknowledged that Democrats are still short of the 218 votes they need to pass the bill.

Hoyer sought to pin the blame for any possible slippage on delaying tactics expected from Republicans, who unanimously oppose the health care remake.

"Nice try Rep. Hoyer, but you can't blame Republicans when the fact is you just don't have the votes," said Antonia Ferrier, spokeswoman for House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio. Republicans could stall the bill by demanding roll-call votes on parliamentary matters.

Hoyer acknowledged that Democrats are still short of the 218 votes they need to pass the bill. "There are many people who are still trying to get a comfort level that this is the right thing to do," he said. "We're very close."

[AlinPA]

13. Unbelievable. 258-177 majority and they can't get 218 votes. Some leadership. nt

[kentuck]

17. If we can't get the votes in the House, then forget it!

We will never get anything thru the Senate. Just forget about it and give us the names of those that are against reform. The rest will be up to us.