Despite mounting evidence that the American people oppose the sweeping changes to the nation’s healthcare that the Democratic Congress envisions, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has steamed full speed ahead with plans to debate and vote on the measure as early as Saturday.
Pelosi has claimed that the results of Tuesday’s elections, which saw big Republican pickups on New Jersey and Virginia, were a victory for her party and for healthcare.
Two Democrats, Bill Owens and John Garamendi won special elections Tuesday, prompting the Speaker to call the election “a victory for health-care reform and other initiatives.”
The Speaker has filed a 42 page last minute amendment to the 1990 page bill, signaling her intent to push the bill to a vote on Saturday.
The Democrats in the House have a wide majority and need no Republican support to pass the measure, but find themselves scrambling for votes with their own caucus. “Moderate” Democrats, the so-called “Blue Dogs” have been reluctant to sign onto legislation that the American people clearly oppose, and have indicated that they will not support.
Democratic leadership has been forced to turn to earmarks and other means to sway reluctant members to support the legislation. “It is human nature to sort of keep discussing until decision time is at hand,” said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, in admitting that the 218 Democrat votes needed to pass the measure will be difficult to find.
The AARP is expected to throw its support behind the legislation some time today, and Democratic leadership hopes that will be enough to push reluctant membership to climb onboard.
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