House Health Care Vote Could Be Delayed

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

5505386Democratic leaders in the House intend to take up debate on their health care overhaul this Saturday, but they acknowledged Friday that it may be a few days before there is an actual vote on the measure.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Friday that House leaders "could use additional time, if needed," to approve its health care bill, Politico reports.

"Unless there are delaying tactics or something I don't foresee, I think we can finish the bill by 7, 8 o'clock tomorrow night," Hoyer reportedly said on a conference call. He said that Republican delay tactics or insufficient Democratic support could stall the vote until Sunday, or possibly Monday or Tuesday.

Hoyer acknowledged his party has not yet secured the 218 votes needed to pass the bill, according to the Associated Press. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has in recent days expressed more confidence in the vote. Last month she said she "definitely" had 218 votes. On Thursday, the speaker said "We will," when asked if she had the votes.

Democrats cannot lose more than 40 votes in the House if they are to pass the bill and are working to overcome issues pertaining to immigration and abortion.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by fartssmelllikepoo November 7, 2009 9:40 PM EST: hey they say they are modeling this after canada and britan, just look at how their system runs and that will tell you how this will run. canada pays what 30-40% in taxes to pay for the "free medical".

beside this bill is not about providing YOU with health care, it will be anouther form of government control over the people.

beside obama's job is to sell it to you.; Reply to this comment


by askagain November 6, 2009 10:51 PM EST: Why are we willing to accept something that Congress exempts itself from? In school we were taught that we the people are their bosses. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. How can we be confident about the health care reforms when our congressmen, our president, and our government workers exempt themselves?; Reply to this comment

by cleantheDCcesspool November 6, 2009 7:38 PM EST

Letter to my congressman and senators from Ohio, today:

The push to pass health "care" legislation, as it is now being presented, represents a gross new erosion of the Constitution of the United States of America. This horrendous collection of new bureaucracies simply erodes personal freedoms and grants to the government unimaginable power. A vote for anything like this bill is a vote for Socialism, and your vote will be recorded for posterity.
Since congress has excluded itself from being subject to this law, it has broken every oath imaginable as American lawmakers, and has shown that we no longer have a Rule of Law in America. Instead, we have a governing elite no longer subject to the will of the people -- in other words, a tyrannical government, which is what the founding fathers rebelled against. Please think about your vote.

Reply to this comment


by cbs4fairness November 6, 2009 10:44 PM EST: dude it has always been this way if not why for the past 100 years only ~20% of the population or so ever voted in presidential elections!!


by hungry1968-17 November 6, 2009 5:15 PM EST: http://politicalirony.com/2009/08/10/an-oldie-but-a-goodie/; Reply to this comment

by hungry1968-17 November 6, 2009 4:40 PM EST

by alanrobisch November 6, 2009 4:19 PM EST
I think you miss the point this is a direct takeover over about 1/6 the economy and it will not lower the costs.

What exactly is being "taken over"?

The hospitals?

The doctors?

Nurses?

Please explain.

Reply to this comment


by Landon111 November 7, 2009 12:00 AM EST: The flow of money through a government bureaucracy represents a takeover and a lack of choice


by hungry1968-17 November 7, 2009 8:08 AM EST: So you think the FLOW of money through a government bureaucracy, is WORSE than the NON-FLOW of money through the DAM of corporate capitalism?

And the public option, which the republicans REFUSE TO LET YOU HAVE AS A CHOICE, is considered to be a "lack of choice"?

Why even type, if you're only going to give a non-answer?

by beecher129 November 6, 2009 4:08 PM EST

I don't understand such extreme emotions and rhetoric by conservatives. I was a fan of Reagan and voted for Bush twice but I always remember Reagan being respectful and humerous as he explained his positions. The present health care bill does not seem like a communist take over, and if anyone is that ideological that they think any government run plan is socialistic then I have a question for them. Would you step up to the plate, do the right thing for the freedom of America and help stop a communist take over of the USA and write a letter to the government refusing to take Social Security payments or if they refuse, commit to donate all your soc. sec. payments to a conservative cause. The reason I say this is that Social Security really is a socialistic law, and yet I see all these people at rallies gladly taking their benefits so they can go to rallies while others are at work.

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by alanrobisch November 6, 2009 4:19 PM EST: I think you miss the point this is a direct takeover over about 1/6 the economy and it will not lower the costs. I suspect this bill will not become law because between conservative democrats and republicans the bill will be fillibustered and no plan will pass. Democrats are while not expressly they are for complete government control over health care. The public option is the beginning of this takeover. I do not believe it would help our country to do this. I believe incremental changes are better.


by goyo88 November 6, 2009 5:08 PM EST: Social Security was forced on us the same way they are trying to force health care on us. Leave my money alone and let me invest it the way I want to (or the way congress is allowed to inves their money and opt out of the Social Security system). If government run health care is as "successful" as Social Security, God help us.


by askagain November 6, 2009 4:00 PM EST: How many companies have to offer 50 or more variations of a product to market all across America. Does Ford or GM have to produce 50 variations of each model it makes? Interesting, several states do require modifications to automobiles if they are going to be marketed in those states. When we buy coca cola, aren't we buying the same coca cola throughout the United States. Perhaps that is a bad example because there are so many plants around the United States and formulas could vary. But you get the idea. Having 50 insurance commissioners and policies that vary by states must drive up the cost of insurance. When I was in the insurance business over 20 years ago, I could be licensed in different states. Each state had its own insurance mandates which meant that the policy I could offer in one state was different than the next state.; Reply to this comment

by lb2258 November 6, 2009 2:46 PM EST

WHy cant the congress, senate and whitehouse enroll in this new plan for a year then come back and tell us how great it is

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by reveal4 November 6, 2009 3:28 PM EST: In the house bill, the public option will only cover 2% of Americans. the other 98% of insured will have private health insurance, Congress members buy private insurance on a type of insurance exchange. Insurance exchanges will....will...will be available for all Americans. just like Congress members, if reform passes.


by velma179 November 6, 2009 3:28 PM EST: by lb2258 November 6, 2009 2:46 PM EST
WHy cant the congress, senate and whitehouse enroll in this new plan for a year then come back and tell us how great it is

**********

Why?

Well, for one because the entire premise of your question is incorrect.

There is no ONE "new plan".

And Congress as well as all federal employees already have a SYSTEM like many Americans will be able to participate in when the legislation is enacted -- this is the Health Insurance Exchange, a marketplace for comparative insurance shopping. Within this Exchange, a public option will be offered... but not to everybody, only to those without employer sponsored insurance.

---

Really folks. Please get some information about this legislation from several sources. Try to get the facts.
You will understand that this legislation is offered for your benefit. Period.

by pandamonium6 November 6, 2009 2:15 PM EST

Republican argument: "I think we should dump Medicare and Medicaid now! Let every person take care of themselves. If you fail to plan, work hard or get sick, too bad. Why should I care if my neighbor needs help? Why should I help old people live longer - thier long lives only costs me more. I work hard for my money and I deserve to keep it."

Democrat argument: Let's all work together to ensure the the playing field is fair for all concerned. Let's give everyone the opportunity to buy insurance at a rate we can all aford. Let's take care of those people in our society who have taken care of us in the past and need our help now. Socialist? Maybe...but it is still the right thing to do.

Call your representative and let them know that you want them to do the right thing now!

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by velma179 November 6, 2009 2:23 PM EST: My representative is on board to pass this legislation.

She will have my vote again in 2010!


by Dont_Tread_on_me November 6, 2009 2:38 PM EST: Can we also buy insurance across state lines?


by ajvw November 6, 2009 2:11 PM EST: House Health Care Vote Could Be Delayed

need a little time for a little more arm twisting / bribery; Reply to this comment