By FITSNews || Democratic leaders in Washington say they have the votes to pass U.S. President Barack Obama’s $2.5 trillion socialized medicine plan Sunday, with Republicans five votes short of peeling off the 38 Democrats they need to kill the bill.
“I know this is a tough vote,” Obama told House Democrats Saturday during a meeting on Capitol Hill. “It will end up being the smart thing to do politically.”
Really?
Tell that to Rep. John Spratt (D-South Carolina), the primary sponsor of the latest proposal.
Obama’s legislation would mandate that all Americans buy coverage and impose fines on those who don’t. It would also dramatically expand the role of government in the private sector, representing the largest expansion of federal power since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted four decades ago.
The bill appeared to be dead in January when Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate – and it continues to be opposed by a majority of Americans. According to the latest Rasmussen reports poll, 54 percent of Americans opposed the legislation while just 41 percent support it. Of those, 45 percent strongly oppose the bill compared to just 26 percent who strongly support it. Those numbers haven’t budged since January, when Republican Scott Brown scored a surprise upset in a special election in Massachusetts that many felt was the end of the legislation.
Nonetheless, Democrats have pushed on, using a controversial tactic known as “reconciliation” to ram the debate through Congress.
“We will go through the gate,” Pelosi said back in January. “If the gate is closed, we will go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we will pole vault in. If that doesn’t work, we will parachute in.”
She’s proven true to her word.
There will be three separate votes on Sunday – a vote on the terms of debate, a vote on compromise changes to the Senate bill that passed last Christmas Eve, and then a vote on the Senate bill itself.
Republicans are holding out hope that the issue of abortion will threaten the bill’s final passage, as Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Michigan), has been fighting to insert language that prohibits the use of tax dollars to fund abortions under the proposal.
Pelosi has refused to budge on that issue.
By countryboy March 21, 2010 at 11:59 am
Well if it passes Pelosi will be in congress as long as she wishes since many of the issues covered in the bill apply more to her constituents than, say the vast majority of South Carolinians (and you figure out what that means).
By MOHANNA March 21, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I’m curious. Do Republicans think all other Repubs, Independent voters, some Dems support their (Not No, But Hell No) positions on Healthcare Reform? If they do that’s a pretty big gamble they’re taking since empirical facts don’t bear them out. Do Repugs not know or just not care that there is a HUGE majority of Americans who want and need Health Care. I think the Repubs are continuing their path of total disaster. They embraced the Tea Party and now the Tea Party is screwing them to the wall. You know how you can tell a Repub is lying? Their lips are moving.
By Mike at the beach March 21, 2010 at 4:01 pm
MOHANNA,
Your mean-spirited, über-partisan drivel aside, you’re obviously confused on the facts. You’re confusing a desire for health care (which, obviously, most people would have) with a desire for socialized health care- two entirely separate issues. The polls don’t lie- the majority of Americans do not want THIS BILL. Yes, they want systemic improvements to our health care apparatus, but not this murderously expensive socialist enterprise. Read between the lines, and you can see why many of the groups supporting this bill are doing so…
By Old Bike Dude March 21, 2010 at 4:02 pm
The teabaggers stepped their game up yesterday, calling Barney Frank a “faggot”(well no shit)and calling two different black congressman “niggers”. Stay classy Teabaggers.
I fully expect that at the next SOTU, our own Addagrave Wilson will shout out “lying socialist jiggaboo”, and then quickly apologize.
By Pat Hendrix March 21, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Armageddon has begun.
Let the bedwetting begin.
By Ynotfirst March 21, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I am pretty happy that big pharma companies cannot buy out their generic counterparts.
One prescription I take costs $1235.00 a month this year.
It’s not an option to ” not take it”. I have to have it.
You do the math
By Dr. Hunley March 21, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Progression has begun.
Let the teabagger whining begin.
By Eric P. March 21, 2010 at 7:51 pm
I’m thrilled this bill will pass because it will give me and my family the chance to get health insurance that does NOT exclude my wife’s high blood pressure risks and my own cancer risks.
As a self-employed person, it has been impossible for us to get true “health insurance.” We have had ONE company to quote us: BC&BS of South Carolina.
This bill will outlaw “exclusions” that allowed monopolistic insurers to ignore customers who need REAL insurance.
If they tell me, “You must see Doctor X or Doctor Y,” that will be fine with me.
For years, my only resource has been “You must go to the emergency room.”
By rodmiller March 21, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Dr. Hunley,
Give it twenty years. Only the dumb kids will end up pursuing a career in medicine.
By No Way! March 21, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Promise #1: They all go home in November!
Promise #2: This is thrown out by the Supreme Court.
Promise #3: Carpetbagger Obama is a lame duck for the last 2 years!
By Truth Seeker March 21, 2010 at 9:40 pm
No Way, you continue to dream!