Dems Need GOP Votes for Health Care Bill

(AP)  President Barack Obama's push to overhaul health care needs Republican votes, lawmakers from both parties say.

Democratic and GOP officials acknowledged Sunday that Obama's ambitious plan would not pass without the aid of a doubtful GOP, whose members are almost united against the White House effort.

"Look, there are not the votes for Democrats to do this just on our side of the aisle," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., the chairman of the budget committee.

Rep. Jim Cooper, a Tennessee Democrat and a member of the fiscally conservative "Blue Dogs," said he doubts the Democratic-controlled House could pass a proposal as it's drafted now.

"We have a long way to go," Cooper said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, insisted she has the votes to move forward with the plan despite concerns among fiscally conservative fellow Democrats.

"When I take this bill to the floor, it will win. We will move forward, it will happen," said Pelosi, D-Calif.

Not so fast, Republicans said. Sensing a public uneasiness over the pace and price tag of the overhaul, Republicans said the longer the delay, the more the public understands the stakes of a policy that has vexed lawmakers for decades.

"We could have a plan in a few weeks if the goal is not a government takeover," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. "We've never seen the government operate a plan of any kind effectively and at the budgets we talked about."

Democrats countered that their plans - and there are many iterations on Capitol Hill, as committees in the House and Senate work on versions - would expand coverage without adding to the deficit. Even so, they are likely to leave for an August recess without a vote.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said they are "80 percent" in agreement on what a final version will include and are making progress.

Obama adviser David Axelrod said, "Now, we're at the final 20 percent and we're trying to work through those details."

That final piece, however, will require GOP backing - something Sen. Mitch McConnell said was unlikely. The Senate minority leader said congressional Democrats are having difficulty selling a health care bill to their own members.

"The only thing bipartisan about the measure so far is the opposition to it," said McConnell, R-Ky.

Conrad and DeMint spoke with ABC's "This Week." Cooper appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation." Pelosi and McConnell were interviewed for CNN's "State of the Union." Gibbs spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Axelrod appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" and CNN's "State of the Union."

[noloyalisti]

Correction, what the Dems need is to grow a pair to stand up to the big corporations that are successfully and methodically dismantling our democracy.

[noloyalisti]

What those Dems need is to be voted out. We the People need to take back our country from the big corporations that RUN EVERYTHING.

[thusspokezara]

Mr. Obama is being too nice with those blue dog Democrats. He needs to call them to the White House and tell them: "Hey you blue dogs, if you don't vote my way I am gonna purge you from this Party. I am the leader of the Democratic Party and I can end your political career. And I have the men who can do it" Then he opens a door and in walks Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Holder. And they have a tete a tete and they discuss how if they don't cooperate they are not gonna get re-elected and once they lose they are gonna face a Federal grandjury.

[rhs648]

Great idea. Purge the blue dogs so they join the Republicans. Most of them will be reelected whether they are Democrats or Republicans. This would be a feast for the Republicans and help put them back in power sooner. Either way, please keep Arlen Spector in the Democratic party.

[rhs648]

According to a new poll by the Rasmussen Reports, President Obama's popularity slipped to a new low. The health care debate is not helping him. Perhaps President Obama needs to stop pushing health care reform. Too many Americans are against health care reform. It is costing him too much political capital.

[mary-miami]

There are thousands of Americans that haven't had a doctors checkup in years, or been to a dentist or optometrist for that matter. They either have no insurance provided by their employer or they can't afford it. These people suffer illness and disease while the rich go to the doctor everytime they sneeze. This is immoral. If the republicans really value life, as they claim to, then begin by respecting the people already living, not just the unborn. Quality of life is as important as life itself. The republicans have a golden opportunity to show Americans that they are not so evil as to deny healthcare to thousands of hard working people. Some argue that you would have to wait six months for treatment....Better that than never seeing a doctor at all...because that is what is happening right now.

[jon2012-2009]

by mary-miami July 27, 2009 3:56 PM EDT
If the republicans really value life, as they claim to, then begin by respecting the people already living, not just the unborn.
-----------------------

I don't know what Republicans value, other than ideology and their tight ties with big business. They don't really propose good solutions. Their usual intellectual product is bs. That's what I hear when I listend to McConnell and Limbaugh.

[mycommentspg]

I say wait and see if the do-nothing congress actually produces a health care program. My guess is after all is said and done, the public will not be thrilled. mycommentspage.blogspot.com

[jsd330]

jon2012 Did you ever think to consider to compare the unemployment rate, during Clinton's time to today. I would be willing to bet that's one of the reasons there are 13 million more without health insurance.

[jon2012-2009]

The 46 million uninsured is not a very current estimate, it's from before the economic meltdown that began in 2008. With higher unemployment today, the figure is higher but I haven't seen any updates. Anyway, the trend is upward since before Clinton.

[diamruby]

Until the government workers have exactly the same health insurance & benefits (or lack of) & earn the same wages as the every day working person they will always vote against anything for us. They have the best of everything & could care less if the rest of us live or die. It's all about how much money is lining their pockets from insurances, drug companies & all other elite people buying them off. Its too bad we could not all cancel our insurance policies for everything on the same day. That would get them thinking.

[stillwaters6]

Well you can not say the President did not try to change the medical system before it collapses.

[sjc_1]

Since the GOP has been fronting for the private sector greed pit all along, this is very unlikely. They will want so many concessions for their few votes that it will not even resemble anything useful when they get done.