GOP Plots Ways to Fight Health Care

Republicans today blasted the Democrats' revised health care plan, calling it wasteful spending, and vowed to continue fighting it -- even in the event that it passes.

Democrats praised the bill today for cutting the federal deficit according to projections, but Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) focused on the price tag: $940 billion.

"The only thing that remains the same is that the American taxpayer will be on the hook to pay for it," he said.

Democrats have been quick to point out the bill is mostly paid for by reducing waste and fraud in Medicare, although the rest of it will be paid for with a "fee" on unearned income for families making more than $250,000, as well as the "Cadillac" excise tax on expensive insurance plans.

Republicans think their best chance for killing the bill is in the House, where it will be up for a vote this weekend.

"Our plan is for it to be defeated here in the house in the next few days," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said today, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports.

Republicans have been studying the Senate rules to plan a way to pick apart and slowly kill the reconciliation "fix it" bill if it actually passes the House and comes before the Senate, Politico reports. However, every bill ever brought to the Senate floor via reconciliation -- a procedure that only takes 51 votes for approval -- has passed.

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"If it gets here, it will pass," Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said, according to Politico. "It only requires 50 votes plus the vice president, so that is an easy hurdle for them."

With that in mind, Republicans have been putting pressure on House Democrats to break from their party.

It's clear "this is no longer an argument between Republicans and Democrats," McConnell said today, Nolen reports. "It's an argument between Democrats and their own constituents."

When she unveiled the bill today, Pelosi said the public should expect to hear "mischaracterizations [and] misrepresentations" from Republicans attempting to intimidate House Democrats.

It appears to be a very real possibility, however, that not enough House Democrats will support the measure for it to pass. The GOP has hammered the Democrats for the "special deals" negotiated to win over wavering Democrats, and will continue to do so if any more deals are made, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) suggested today.

Coburn said he would block all future Obama administration nominations of members of Congress who switch their votes from "no" to "yes," Politico reports -- in other words, Coburn said, members who "sold their vote for a nomination."

"Be prepared to defend selling your vote in the House," he reportedly said at a news conference with other GOP doctors.

If the bill does reach the president's desk, as many as 37 House and Senate Republicans -- and 163 congressional candidates -- have already signed a pledge to try and repeal the measure should the GOP win back either the House or Senate this fall, the Washington Post reports.

Watch the Democrats' and Republicans' dueling messages, which were featured on today's CBSNews.com's "Washington Unplugged":

Watch CBS News Videos Online

More Coverage of the Health Care Reform Debate:

Everybody's Talking But Can We Hear a Word They're Saying?
The Hunt for Health Care Votes: Democrats to Watch
Dem Health Care Bill Pegged at $940B Over 10 Years
Washington Unplugged: Nancy Cordes on the Final Countdown
Temperature Rising for Health Care Votes
Health Care Passage Plan Unconstitutional?
Obama Pushes Health Care Bill in Combative Fox Interview
Pelosi: Health Care Bill "Best Initiative" for the Economy
Republicans Have Used "Slaughter Solution" Many Times
Stupak's Life a "Living Hell" because of Abortion Position
Obama's Health Care Plan: What Do You Think?
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

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by thinking-hurts March 19, 2010 7:49 AM EDT: We have called our representatives to no avail; it is now time to go to the Supreme Court, and to your state attorney generals.; Reply to this comment


by KIMBERLYSUF March 19, 2010 4:12 AM EDT: You're political party won't matter when your mandated to buy inadequate, truly a joke of health insurance so everyone can have government control of their private decisions, and all can suffer equally.
Referring to the text of President Barack Obama's speech in Strongsville - Cleveland-com
March 15, 2010

The first part of his speech speaks volumes --- he sounds like he knows what this country wants, and what the working people want --- and apparently, for the grace of God, he is here to help us. If he truly wanted to help us, would he use every tactic possible to shove this bill down our throats, there's no denying many people do not want this excuse for healthcare reform, many have read the Senate bill, and see the glaring socialistic mandates. Many know the current administrations proposed bills will hurt the economy, when they thought the remaking of America meant the economy would get better; rather than much of the stimulus dollars getting used to prepare for progressing to socialism.
Many times he has told people what is acceptable --- GOOD FOR THOSE WHO SAY NO ---- HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE --- THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE. The people that believe he is Gods messenger, are selling their souls to the devil.; Reply to this comment


by g55rumpy March 19, 2010 3:15 AM EDT: the bill is un-Constitutional.as is the method to pass it; Reply to this comment


by klgrube1 March 19, 2010 2:49 AM EDT: Here's my plan: If this bill passes - especially if they pass it by voting for the 'rule' instead of the real bill - I will contact my company's HR department and reduce my tax withdrawals to $0. Then, I'll use the money to donate to candidates running against idiots like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, Mary Landrieu, Steny Hoyer, etc. I'll also donate the money to any organization that files suit against the government to get this unconstitutional bill repealed. I may even see if I can put a flight to Washington on Saturday on a credit card to join the protest at the capital. I don't know what else to do. I've send over 100 faxes, made over 100 phone calls over the last two weeks, and these jerks aren't listening!!! I am so angry!; Reply to this comment


by RobAla March 19, 2010 12:11 AM EDT: OK - Democrats are contemplating going around the US Constitution in order to pass this corrupt bill, and the Republicans are the "plotters"? I am not a member of either party, but I find the current actions of the Democrats to be sickening. Who is really doing the "plotting"?; Reply to this comment

by melpol1 March 18, 2010 9:06 PM EDT

The chance of providing quality health care to the poor is now at hand. Nationalized health care will make sure that no person is left behind. We must thank the rich for getting it passed. They will have the power and compassion to raise the payroll tax, and pay medical costs for every sick person. It might anger some of the overpaid, but they have been living high on the hog for too long.

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by gboyd41 March 18, 2010 11:31 PM EDT: Mel-more like being held up at gunpoint, similiar to what a lot of these slackers do on a routine basis, besides sitting at home drinking and having children that the taxpayer has to pay to raise.


by tallanh March 18, 2010 7:59 PM EDT: Consider this question: How would the American people respond if it were known that there would be a 9/11 style attack occurring on American soil every 6 weeks, and the government was doing nothing to stop it? Families USA recently announced the results of a study which revealed that currently, some 68 people die needlessly every day in America because of their lack of access to healthcare. That is roughly the equivalent of a 9/11 attack every 6 weeks. Within the next few years, as increasing numbers of small businesses become unable to provide insurance benefits for employees, the death rate is expected to rise to about a 9/11 every 5 weeks.
I see in this thread a lot of talk about the glories of the free market Well, the free market has delivered to Americans the most expensive health care system in the world. At the same time, World Health Organization statistics reveal that, in terms of outcomes, out most expensive system delivers only mediocrity. Across a wide range of measurable outcomes, most western nations do better, for less. America is on a par with countries like Croatia in terms of outcomes/
Remember all the hysterical talk of "death panels" last summer? Well, in reality, the Republicans have supported death panels for decades. Every time an insurance company denies coverage because of a pre-existing condition, that is a death panel at work. Every time an insurance company produces some lame technical excuse to drop someone from their roles, or to deny a claim, the people who make those decisions are operating potentially as a death panel. People have died because of the status quo. And back when Clinton was making his attempt at reform, Newt Gingrich was asked by a Democratic House member what the Republicans would offer in terms of ideas for reform. Newt's answer was that there would be no ideas offered. Instead, Republicans would "defeat" all reform efforts and retake power in the next election. Newt, and Republicans in general, have blood on their hands. And in the intervening years when Republicans were in power, reform was not even whispered as a consideration. People who could be alive today are dead because of this attitude, and the only ones who have benefited are the insurance company executives with their well-padded bank accounts.; Reply to this comment


by quietfireII March 18, 2010 7:16 PM EDT: Man, you Republicans believe every thing they tell you. When the the Republicans used "Deem & Pass" was it in violation of the constitution? Too funny!; Reply to this comment


by the74blaster March 18, 2010 7:09 PM EDT: What do you expect from the Republicans.

Hopefully the 32 million uninsured Americans, those who hve been denied benefits and those who have had rate increases of 30% or more this year remember this.

If you beneift from this bill tell the GOP that you plan to vote straight emocratic ticket to show your approval of there job performance.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 March 18, 2010 6:20 PM EDT: What else would expect from the anti-American Republican party. Same ole, same ole.; Reply to this comment

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