House Braces For Final, Painful Compromises But Leadership Confident They'll Win Over More Blue Dogs

[jefferson_dem]

House Braces For Final, Painful Compromises But Leadership Confident They'll Win Over More Blue Dogs
Christina Bellantoni | December 22, 2009, 9:50AM

House Democrats believe they will secure additional health care reform votes from Blue Dog Democrats thanks to the Senate's more conservative version of the legislation. And despite deep misgivings, the House Democratic leadership expects to lose few if any progressive Democratic votes over the demise of the public option, paving the way to get a final bill to President Obama's desk by Feb. 1.

As the Senate prepares for a final vote to clear the bill, TPMDC chatted with several top House aides to get a sense of where things stand and what can be expected over the next few weeks. There are four key sticking points to be negotiated: the public option, abortion language, immigration and how taxes are applied to pay for it.

Leadership aides say progressives are prepared to take it on the chin and will vote for a final bill without a public option. But they say pro-life Democrats will seek direction from the U.S. Conference of Bishops as to whether they can support an amendment weaker than Rep. Bart Stupak's, thus setting up what will likely be the most difficult negotiation before a final vote.

Senate Democrats have repeatedly warned that any substantive changes to the bill they will pass tomorrow night will lose the fragile 60-vote coalition they've built, and it looks like they will get their way.

"I don't see how we don't largely accede to the Senate," a House leadership aide said.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/house-braces-for-final-painful-compromises-but-leadership-confident-theyll-win-over-more-blue-dogs.php

[golddigger]

1. You know what the scariest part of this article is...

"Pro-life Democrats will seek direction from the U.S. Conference of Bishops."

[fugop]

2. Absolutely agree

THESE are the people we need to primary out. Did anyone watch any of that scary "Pray to beat health reform" video? With DeMint and Brownback and Bachmann joining in? This is the crap that scares me to death. And Democrats looking for guidance efrom bishops on legislation? That's what should be covered 24/7 by our freakin' media, not Tiger Woods and tea partiers.

Too scary for words.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Disgustingly, the bishops have already said Nelson's compromise does not meet with their approval.

[Clio the Leo]

3. I think they will too....

.... if I'm not mistaken Maxine Waters has gone from "I will oppose this bill" to "I will wait to see what is in this bill."

Everyone is beginning to see the inevitability of this whole thing .... and more importantly, the inevitable of what will happen if its NOT passed.

[PassingFair]

5. If the "New Dems" hang together with the Progressives, it WON'T MATTER what the Blue Dogs think...

Chance of THAT happening = ZERO


Please watch closely and stay tuned.

The DLC does NOT want SinglePayer OR PublicOption...

They will let the Blue Dogs take the heat, just
like the Catholic Church lets the Fundies and
the Mormons take the heat in the abortion and
gay marriage struggles.

[treestar]

6. I hope this will convince the voters that they need to vote out

Republicans. Their failure to compromise at all should be taken into account.

[backscatter712]

7. Here's hoping that enough Blue Dogs sign on to overcome Stupak's Stupids.

Stupak's gonna make noise, but hopefully, enough fiscal conservadems agree to vote for this (disgustingly enough, because the public option was stripped) to hold the fetus fetishists at bay.