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Watch Gavel to Gavel coverage of the Historic Debate and Votes on Health Care Reform today.

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The Big Vote

Decision day is finally here.

The House is expected to begin voting on health care bills at 1 p.m. today, bringing the administration’s proposed overhaul of the insurance system just inches from reality.

But the vote-counting is still under way. As The Times’s David Herszenhorn writes, based on lawmakers talking on the Sunday news shows:

Democrats either have the 216 votes needed to pass major health care legislation, or they don’t yet have the votes; or they don’t yet have the votes but they will have the votes once the bill comes to the floor later this afternoon.

But as the vote counting came down to the wire four states appeared to be at the center of the action. Ohio; Pennsylvania; Tennessee, and West Virginia each had two Democratic lawmakers who had yet to publicly declare their position.

They are Representatives Steve Driehaus and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio; Kathy Dahlkemper and Paul E. Kanjorski of Pennsylvania; Lincoln Davis and John Tanner of Tennessee; and Alan B. Mollohan and Nick J. Rahall II of West Virginia.

Now that Marcy Kaptur has said she will vote yes, will Steve Diehaus be encouraged to become  one of Ohio's Health Care Hero's?

The Benefits of Health Care Reform In the 1st Congressional District of Ohio (pdf)

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Tea partiers and other anti-health care activists are known to get rowdy, but today's protest on Capitol Hill--the day before the House is set to vote on historic health care legislation--went beyond the usual chanting and controversial signs, and veered into ugly bigotry and intimidation.

Civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Andre Carson (D-IN) related a particularly jarring encounter with a large crowd of protesters screaming "kill the bill"... and punctuating their chants with the word "nigger."

Standing next to Lewis, emerging from a Democratic caucus meeting with President Obama, Carson said people in the crowd yelled, "kill the bill and then the N-word" several times, while he and Lewis were exiting the Cannon House office building.

And that wasn't an isolated incident. Early this afternoon, standing outside a Democratic whip meeting in the Longworth House office building, I watched Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) make his way out the door, en route to the neighboring Rayburn building. As he rounded the corner toward the exit, wading through a huge crowd of tea partiers and other health care protesters, an elderly white man screamed "Barney, you faggot"--a line that caused dozens of his confederates to erupt in laughter.

After that incident, Capitol police threatened to expel the protesters from the building, but were outnumbered and quickly overwhelmed. Tea party protesters equipped with high-end video cameras were summoned to film the encounter and the officers ultimately relented.

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) took to the House floor tonight to call on Republicans to "distance" themselves from the ugly epithets allegedly yelled at minority members of Congress by anti-health care reform protesters gathered on Capitol Hill today.

Ryan called on Republican pols who addressed today's anti-reform rally to "come out and condemn" the protesters for their alleged slurs against black members and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who is openly gay.

"This behavior is irresponsible it does not belong in a civilized society," Ryan said of the protests. Video after the jump.

Ryan seemed visibly upset by the allegations, but he didn't refrain from using a questionable phrase himself to describe the protesters.

"I wanted to come to the floor today after hearing about experiencing and reading some of the reports about what happened here today in the nation's capitol to some of the finest servants that this institution has ever seen by some of these tea bagger protesters who have been out today," he said.

Ryan said that that it was now up to the Republicans to condemn what was said.

"We call on the Republicans to say 'shame on you' to that kind of behavior," he said.

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After more than 13 hours and 80 amendments later, the Rules Committee adjourned on Saturday night with a rule in place to allow the House of Representatives to debate and vote Sunday on the health care bill and the package of fixes in the reconciliation bill. As announced earlier in the day, there will be no “deem and pass” straegy employed. The health care bill and the reconciliation bill conatining the “fixes” will get straight up-or-down votes.

In total, it’s expected that there will be seven votes held throughout the day. Two on the rule, two on budget points of order, one on a Republican motion to recommit, and one each on the two bills that will be voted on. All of the votes will require a simple majority of 216 “ayes” to pass. All the action is expected to start at about 1 p.m. ET. Here’s your guide to Sunday’s floor debate as the Democrats take this monumental step towards finalizing Congress and President Obama’s health care reform effort.

1) Debate of the rule — At 1 p.m. ET, the Chair of the House Committee on Rules, Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28], will officially start the health care debate by calling up the “rule,” H.Res.1192, that will govern it.

2) Vote on ending debate of the rule — After one hour of debating the rule, the House will take up a “previous question motion,” which, essentially, asks if the House is ready to end debate on the rule and begin debate of the actual legislation. It’s possible that this will be agreed to unanimously by voice vote — these kinds of motions typically are simply agreed to, but with the health care debate it’s not safe to expect the typical.

3) Voting on the rule — Having voted to end debate of the rule, the House will then vote on approving the rule itself.

4) Health care debate begins — The Senate health care bill and the package of fixes contained in the reconciliation bill will happen at the same time under the rule approved on Saturday night. The rule allows for two hours of debate to be equally divided between the Republicans and the Democrats.

5) Vote on budget point of order — The rules allows Republicans to raise a point of order agains the bill under clause 10 of House rule XXI, otherwise known as “paygo.” They would have to make an agument that, contrary to the CBO, the bill would raise the deficit. A Democratic motion to waive the point of order will be voted on.

6) Vote on the health care bill — After two hour of debate, the House will vote on a motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R.3590, a.k.a. the Senate health care bill.

7) Debate of the reconciliation bill begins — After the House approves the Senate health care bill, they will immediately take up the package of fixes contained in the Reconciliation Act of 2010. The rule, which will have been approved earlier in the day, states that the 153-page amendment released by the Democrats on 3/17 and the 9-page amendment to that amendment released on 3/20 will be deemed adopted as the text of the reconciliation bill.

8) Vote on budget point of order — Again, the Republicans are allowed to raise a paygo objection at this point. If they raise the objection, the House will vote on a Democratic motion to waive it.

9) Vote on a Motion to recommit — House Republicans will be given one last chance to kill or severely alter the reconciliation bill with a motion to recommit. The basic idea of a motion to recommit is that it would send a bill back to the committee it came from for a revision. The Democrats are required to allow the Republicans to have this vote by a House rule that was established by the Republicans in the 104th Congress. The Republicans will likely use the motion to recommit to force a vote on an issue related to the bill that some Democrats would want to vote in favor of, like stronger abortion funding restrictions or a repeal the individual mandate. The text of the motion to recommit does not have to be released beforehand and only gets ten minutes of debate before being voted on. This is the big potential pitfall the Democrats face in getting the reconciliation bill through the House. David Waldman at Congress Matters has more details.

10) Vote on the reconciliation bill — If the Democrats can stick together to overcome the Republican motion to recommit, they will then hold a final vote on the reconciliation bill.

11) Fin — if the reconciliation bill passes, it gets sent to the Senate for debate and votes next week. The Senate health care bill, having been passed earlier, will enter the enrollment process (.pdf) in preparation to be signed into law by President Obama. It’s still not clear whether Obama will sign the health care bill right away, or whether he’ll wait for the reconciliation bill to pass the Senate and sign both of them into law at the same time.

~ Open Congress

President Obama addresses the House Democratic Caucus and says that the time is now to vote for health care reform for America.

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To anyone who followed the minor saga of Steve Christopher, this late Friday announcement comes as no suprise.

Hardin County attorney Steve Christopher (the tea party wanna be candidate who apparently got confused on filing day and didn't deliver all his petitions to the Secretary of State's office) has dropped his legal fight to be listed as an attorney general candidate for the May Republican primary.

Of course, the decision to withdraw the lawsuit also means that Christopher won't have to answer questions under oath in the case in a deposition that had been scheduled for Monday. Those answers likely would have labeled him a fool who's claim came down to a kid trying to say, "I swear I turned in my homework . . .  the teacher must have lost it".

Secretary Brunner said that the burden was always on Christopher to prove the allegations in his lawsuit and given he is withdrawing it, “I would surmise that he cannot prove them."

"I would say he blinked", added Brunner.

Case closed on Mr. Christopher.  The Tea Party won't be happy, but primary or not they're not going to vote for the ORP (Chairman Kevin Dewine) endorsed Mike Dewine anyway.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who voted for the House’s first health-care bill in November remains a firm yes on the bill to be considered Sunday.

From The Youngstown Vindicator:

Ryan, who is also anti-abortion, said support of the bill by those who represent 59,000 Catholic nuns and from agencies that run about 1,200 Catholic hospitals and nursing homes shows taxpayer funding won’t go for elective abortions.

Passage of the health-care bill is “critical” to middle-class families, small businesses and low-income people who can’t afford health insurance, he said.

“Economically, we have to do it,” Ryan said. “The bill isn’t perfect. It’s not a panacea. Once it passes and takes effect, it will dismiss the myths and misconceptions people have about the bill.”

The bill could be signed into law in a few weeks, he said.

“It isn’t a giant government takeover,” Ryan said. “There’s not even a public option.”

Among the bill’s key points are: expanding coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans; prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage for those with pre-existing medical conditions or dropping coverage when a person becomes ill, imposing annual or lifetime limits on care; requiring free preventive care; and allowing people up to the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ health-care coverage.

“This is middle-of-the-road stuff,” Ryan said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of here. I have no interest in hurting business. My No. 1 goal is to grow businesses. This will be looked back on as something that helped the country.”

A House vote is expected Sunday, so it’s more important than ever that we stand up for health care reform, and for the millions of Americans whose lives will be improved and even saved if this reform passes.

Will you join us tonight?

WHAT: Human Face of Health Reform Vigil
WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 2010 (TONIGHT!), 7:30-9:30 PM
WHERE: Meet at the corner of 5th and Vine on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati

If possible, please bring a sign that says “I’m here for [NAME]” if there is someone you know who will benefit from health care reform. You could add “if reform passes, she’ll be able to buy insurance to cover her diabetes,” or whatever the reason is. If you’re able, add a photo of that person to your sign, to help put a face on health reform.

ALSO – be sure to bring a candle or a flashlight!

This will be a very solemn event. Yelling or bickering between pro- and anti-reform sides would be inappropriate. Tonight we are gathering so that no one forgets the human lives that are going to be improved and saved with the passage of reform.

Please join us tonight as we stand up for those in our country -- insured and uninsured, healthy and sick, young and old -- who NEED this reform to happen.  This is our last chance to communicate to Congress how many people in our country need reform to become a reality.

Passage of this health care reform  will be historic -- be a part of it!

“I remained undecided until I could thoroughly review the bill and ensure it's in the best interest of my constituents.

“I've found it to be a strong first step towards providing health care for all Americans. Small businesses will receive tax credits to help them maintain quality insurance for their employees. Affordability measures and tax credits for the middle class are implemented to expand access to the uninsured. The unfair practice of denying folks coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions is also ended. Medicaid is expanded to cover additional youth in need—America’s foster youth who have aged out care.

“I'm proud that the proposed changes improve Medicare for our seniors. Immediately after this bill becomes law seniors who enter the donut hole in 2010 will receive a $250 rebate. The bill also completely closes the Medicare Part D donut hole.

“These reforms are completely paid for and will not increase the deficit. This bill actually reduces the federal deficit by $138 billion in the first ten years and cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion in second ten years.

“My constituents have spoken. Ohioans, and all Americans, deserve affordable, accessible quality health care that is responsive to their needs. Now is the time to stand for change. Now is the moment to fight for quality care.”

WASHINGTON -- As the House prepares for a likely vote Sunday on President Barack Obama's health-care bill, several Ohio Democrats, including Rep. Zack Space, of Dover, could be key to whether it passes or fails.

Space remained undecided Friday, heading into an uncertain weekend. Lawmakers were told to expect votes today and Sunday, although the final vote on the health-care bill itself wasn't expected until Sunday afternoon or evening.

Space has avoided all media contact for more than a week, including repeated requests for an interview by the Gannett Washington Bureau. His spokesman, Andrew Ricci, said Friday the congressman remains undecided but he would speak to the press once he makes his decision.

The Benefits of Health Care Reform In the 18th Congressional District of Ohio (pdf)

Below is a letter to the editor that I sent to the Cincinnati Enquirer early this morning.  I know that there are strong feelings within our Party about how Congressman Driehaus should vote on the Health Care bill. 

Like most of you I sincerely hope that his is, in the end,  a yes vote.  But whether you agree with him on his final vote or not please show him and his family greater respect than the Minority Leader of the House does or the folks who used his children in a full page ad did.

And please, at least on our side, demonstrate civility, respect and a willingness to understand that good democrats can have issues on which they disagree. Steve has never hidden his prolife position so we should not be surprised when he stands by it.   

Steve has been a strong supporter of massive improvements in our health care system.  Those of you who heard him in town hall meetings this past Summer know that.     

Here is the letter:

Dear Editor.

My God, what have we come to.

Congressman Boehner, the Minority Leader, carries the debate over health care and Steve Driehaus’ vote to the most  extreme and vicious.  Today’s Enquirer (3/20/10) quotes Boehner saying that if Driehaus votes for the bill “the Catholics will run him out of town.  He may be a dead man.  He can’t go home to the West Side of Cincinnati.”

Make no mistake I am a partisan Democrat.  But I value the ability of those who can, through their respect for the other side and the give and take of good faith political discourse, accomplish things in a bipartisan manner.  Whether used for rhetorical purposes or not, the suggestion that death is an appropriate response to a vote not liked goes beyond any acceptable partisan advocacy.  Shame on you Congressman Boehner.

I don’t agree with Congressman Driehaus on every one of his positions.  I sincerely hope that the final language of the health care bill will win his yes vote.  But I know, if it does not, it will not be because of threats like this, or the misuse of his children in ads, but because of a long held and publicly stated position of conscience.  One which I may not agree with but I have to respect.
 
And Mr. Boehner, I thought you were pro life.

Tim Burke
Chair, Hamilton County Democratic Party

Rep. Betty Sutton will back health care bill

In response to a query from The Plain Dealer, Copley Township Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton just announced her support for the health care bill that's under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here's a copy of the statement she sent by email:

 "Every year more than 40,000 people die because they don't have health insurance coverage, and in this great nation it should not be that way. The legislation is not perfect and indeed contains provisions that I will continue to strive to improve, but I will vote for the bill. By passing this legislation we will take the long overdue step toward ending the egregious, discriminatory practices of insurance companies that deny care based on pre-existing conditions and impose outrageous premium increases. This legislation will also strengthen the solvency of Medicare, lower drug costs for our seniors, and make health insurance more affordable and accessible for small businesses and individuals."

Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 17, 2010

In this week’s address, President Barack Obama reiterated his call for comprehensive reforms to the financial system including commonsense rules of the road and a Consumer Financial Protection Agency that will advocate for everyday Americans. The President also urged the Senate to remain strong and resist the pressure of those who wish to preserve the status quo.

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Transcript of the President's remarks below:

Gil Smart says the video of anti-reform demonstrators mocking a Parkinson's victim is a perfect window into the twisted soul of teabag nation.

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CBO Score Released: Largest Deficit Reduction Measure in 17 Years
Final Reconciliation Language Released Thursday

WASHINGTON, DC – After reviewing the CBO score and the final reconciliation bill (H.R. 4872) language, U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson announced his support of the Senate health reform bill and the reconciliation bill which will make necessary changes to the Senate bill.

Analysis released yesterday by the Congressional Budget Office concludes that the health reform bill with the amendments in the reconciliation bill will lead to a reduction of $138 billion in the federal deficit over a ten year period. In addition, it will cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the second ten year period --the largest deficit reduction measure in 17 years.

“This bill is not perfect, but it is a strong step forward,” Wilson said. “I have seen the CBO score and the reconciliation changes for myself. This bill will not add a dime to the deficit. I am confident that the Senate bill will be amended by the reconciliation language and that special deals for certain states, like Nebraska, have been taken out, that affordability for middle class families has been improved and that the harmful excise tax on high cost health plans has been adjusted. For these reasons and for the benefits that this bill will bring to my constituents, I will support the Senate bill with the announced reconciliation changes.”

Wilson, who is pro-life, has given serious consideration to the abortion language in the Senate version of the bill. Thursday afternoon, Wilson joined a conference call, along with pro-life Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan, to discuss the Senate bill with several pro-life religious leaders, including Francis Xavier Doyle, the former Associate General Secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Doyle thanked Wilson for taking a thoughtful and deliberative approach to health reform. Doyle agreed with the other religious leaders on the call that no federal funds would be spent on abortion because of this health care reform bill.

“I am confident that the language in the Senate bill ensures that there will be no federal funding for abortions,” Wilson said. “It is important to remember that according to a Harvard Medical School study, an estimated 45,000 people die each year – that’s one American every 12 minutes – in part because they lack health insurance and access to quality health care. We must value their lives as well. At this point, I am confident that the Senate language upholds all of my pro-life values. ”

Dear Friend,

In the past year, our nation has engaged in a national debate over health care reform. 

It's been a privilege meeting with the thousands of constituents and listening to both sides of the debate. But a central theme emerged over the course of recent months. Both sides of the argument agreed we need reform. The personal stories, from Ashland to Wadsworth and from Wooster to North Canton and from all across the district, relayed to me were the most moving and persuasive arguments for reform.  

I have met too many families and small businesses in our area who are one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. Today, I invited three such families effected by our broken system to come to Washington to tell their stories and stand beside me as I made my commitment to vote in support of health care reform that would protect them from financial ruin while providing them with life-saving health care.

The current cost of health care is breaking the financial back of American small businesses, middle class families, and seniors.  If Washington decides to do nothing our country’s deficit will continue to grow, the health insurance industry will continue to raise premiums, and 32 million Americans will go on without health care.

That's why I'm supporting health care reform. The reform package cuts the federal deficit by 1.2 trillion dollars over the next two decades, gives tax credits, contains cost, reduces existing fraud and waste in the current system, and extends affordable high-quality health care to an additional 32 million Americans - including 414,000 16th District residents.

What does all this mean for the 16th Congressional District.  Working families in the district will receive the largest middle class tax cut in history.  The 9,800 uninsured individuals in the district who have pre-existing conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes can no longer be denied affordable coverage.  Our seniors will see the cost and quality of their Medicare improve while providing new discounts and rebates for prescription drugs.  The new health insurance exchange will offer group rates and more choice for small businesses in the district that provide health care for their employees.  Finally, the 38,500 residents who cannot afford health insurance in the district will receive coverage.

For some this difficult vote has become about politics and reelections. Personally, making sure the folks in our district can afford quality health care is more important than the obsession over politics in Washington.  The National Republican Party from the start has stood with the health insurance industry and other special interest groups as Americans call for action from Congress. 

I want to thank all of you who have shared your stories with me and for those families who came to Washington today to stand with me in support of health care reform. We can only do this together, and I need your help.  I look forward to continuing to build upon what we are building together – a greater Ohio and a greater 16th Congressional District.

Sincerely,



Rep. John Boccieri
(OH-16)

Taken from his post here:

I'm the person you all are writing about. Let me tell you a bit about me. First of all, my actions were NOT about me, NOT for me either.

My parents raised me to think about other people; like:
• "Whatsoever you do to the least of us..."
• "He's not heavy, he's my brother."
• "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you."; and, especially in our large family,
• "Share, and share alike."

One of my brothers said that if our parents would have written a book about how they raised seven kids on so little money, they would have been rich. But they didn't, and we weren't. We shared a lot and handed stuff down a lot--and our parents did without, often, and a lot.

Last Tuesday, i got up,, made my sign, went to the demonstration, and came home. I though it was over. But i guess i was wrong on that!

My sign borrowed from the "Got Milk?" ad: "Got Parkinson's?// I DO and YOU might//Thanks for helping!//That's community."

Medicare paid for brain surgery that significantly mitigated my suffering. When I got my brain implants turned on, life became almost ordinary for awhile--and we all cried tears of happiness.
But Parkinson's is still eating away at my nervous system, and some day i'll die from it. In the meantime, i have dedicated myself to thanking my family and friends, and the broader public for helping me. I do so mostly by writing, and occasionally by putting myself in harm's way, to bring attention, not to me--i'm the luckiest guy since Lou Gehrig--but to people who need help so badly and couldn't make the rally.

My only hope is that my Mother and deceased Father would be proud of me.

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