Congress: Saturday night fever

Posted: Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:10 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress

"The House is headed toward a rare Saturday evening vote as Democratic leaders scramble to placate party factions threatening to defeat the healthcare bill over hot button issues such as spending, immigration and abortion," The Hill reports.

Here's The Hill's tally of who would likely vote how -- so far.

The AARP is set to endorse the Democratic health-care reform measure that the House will vote on this Saturday. “In a coup for House Democrats, AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday,” the AP writes. “An endorsement from the seniors' lobby was critical when then-President George W. Bush pushed the Medicare prescription drug benefit through a closely divided Congress in 2003. House Democratic leaders are hoping it will work the same political magic for them as they strive to deliver on President Barack Obama's signature issue.”

“House Democratic leaders struggled Wednesday to strike a deal that would restrict the use of federal money to pay for abortions under sweeping health care legislation headed for debate on the House floor this week,” the New York Times notes.

Per NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, the Senate voted yesterday to extend federal unemployment benefits for 14 weeks and to continue the Homebuyers Tax Credit program until April 30, 2010. The vote was 98-0.

The legislation … could come up in the House as early as Thursday, sending it to President Barack Obama for his signature."

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Comments

Congess has the fever because they couldn't get their H1N1 flu shots. That shipment of vaccine was sent to Gitmo.

Boogy Woogy Flu (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:16 AM)

News for Dems ---- AARP IS UNDERGOING A 'MEMBERSHIP-REVOLT' OVER AARP EXECUTIVES POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SUPPORT OF A HEALTHCARE BILL THAT WILL, IN FACT, CUT MEDICARE FUNDS!

AARP IS LOSING MEMBERSHIP OVER ITS SUPPORT ! (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:25 AM)

If tthey push this thru, I hope nancy's grapes die!

no on health reform (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:48 AM)

AARP is an insurance company for retired people. They are endorsing the Democratic plan. There must be something they want and need. Maybe they want to be ahead of the curve realizing that eventually the bill will pass with public option anyway. Why not get on the band wagon before it leaves town rather than trying to get on later. AARP got a huge backlash from Bush's drug bill not being paid for and they don't want to make the same mistake this time.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:14 AM)

Crap look listen all these problem s are here now deal with now if not we will pay later. Every member of the party should look each in the eye and say yea not no,This is going to be the last time ion a long while for the Democrats to put this Country first see maybe some are safe not fearing they will be defeated and really never wanted to back President Obama so if seats are going to be lost lose them with the American people in mind and use your moral judgement not yoru prejudices, a lot of Americans need assistance of some kind now and then we should not be punishing them if the Republicans has these issues and had those houses you bet we would not be talking now all would be passd and folks would not be saying nothing because of perception. See when the Iraq invasion came not much debate was it no hearing nope war was declared and it wasn't a war just a invasion and our Democratic leaders at the time had chest out al in the name of killing now in the name of saving our own lives you suck it up vote and against his agendas keep it up see when these Election's come up again, President Obama won't be hurt see he had a strong group of follower's and will get the message out on the new party of no,who happened to be some of you Democrats for once can you folk's vote on party lines for if you didn't like what President Obama was planning before he was elected you should have ran for that office that's why he ran because he didn't like the leadership and you leader's sided with him.

Ivoted (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:42 AM)

Time to vote for health insurance change in this nation, these greedy health insurance companies have held this nation hostage for years and it has to stop, the only way it will stop (since they are not good enough people themselves to do the right thing by the American citizens) is for congres to step in and do it for them and pass the public option.
AARP will not loose the two memberships from my house as long as they support this healthcare bill - if they decide to support anything the repugnants put up for grabs (which will probably do nothing to regulate the health insurance industry, and that is really what this battle is all about) then i'll be the first to jump ship, cancel my AARP membership and never look back. So I'm rather proud that my AARP leaders have listened to me instead of some crooked health insurance CEO.
Pass the bill on Saturday, then we can all celebrate! I'll be especially happy because it includes an option for those of us between 55-65 who would like to retire but only continue to work because we could not have health insurance/healthcare without working. Let us retire, sure would take care of the unemployment problem, now wouldn't it? Plus it would be cost effective to the employers - you never start a new employee at what someone who has been with the company for a long time makes.
Good old fashioned economics - something the repugnants failed to remember over the past 20 years.

Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:44 AM)

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