The Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives — with one GOP vote — barely passed a trillion dollar-plus health care bill. They needed to, or the issue would have died. But they ultimately succeeded only by passing an amendment that stripped Pelosicare from using taxpayer subsidies for abortion. At the same time, assuring angry pro-choicers that that abortion funding would be restored in a final bill. One of those factions is going to be disappointed, and unlikely to support a final Senate compromise bill, if it gets that far.
Pelosicare also allows illegal immigrants to purchase insurance from health exchanges. That was required to get the congressional Hispanic caucus on board. But the Senate will never go for that. The Senate will also strip or weaken the oppressive, big-government public option. There are several dozen House Dems who won’t vote for a bill without the public option … 40-plus more who insist on no abortion funding, and at least an equal number who insist on abortion funding, … and 20 or so Hispanic caucus members who insist illegal aliens’ purchasing access remain in a final bill. Throw in the few dozen scared blue dogs who would like to be re-elected and health care “reform” is far from over. In fact, I’d wager that, with such a tiny House margin, it’s sinking almost as fast as public support for Obama/Pelosi-care is.
Nicole
on Nov 8th, 2009
@ 8:21 pm:
I wish I were as optimistic as you are about this bill being defeated in the Senate. I think the White House will bribe every last Democrat along with Joe Lieberman, and I fear that they will ram this or a similar atrocity through, if not with 60 votes, than through reconciliation.
It’s sad when the government ignores the current fiscal reality and decides it’s a great time to enlarge governmnent. It would be the equivalent of me paying out 50% of my income each month to credit card companies and deciding that what I really need to do is add an extra garage to my house for a new car.