Health vote could slip to next week
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009 12:19 PM by Domenico Montanaro
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Congress
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro
The House is coming on tomorrow for what was supposed to be a rare Saturday vote on health care.
But signs are pointing to a delay to Sunday or possibly next week due, in part, to unresolved issues over abortion and illegal immigration -- as well as the possibility for Republicans to use delay tactics.
Nancy Pelosi, in remarks today, hinted at a delay with this comment: "Within the next few days, the House will vote on the most comprehensive health care legislation in our history."
"Within the next few days...."
Aides to Speaker Pelosi insist they are ready for Saturday action saying, "Our plan is to go tomorrow, which has been clear."
Debate is expected to begin tomorrow at 9am. And senior Democratic aides say they have told members to stay in the D.C. area (not return to districts) until there is a healthcare vote and to be prepared to stay until Veteran's Day if necessary.
They acknowledge Democrats do not have the needed votes today, saying, "There is enough opposition" for the measure to fail. Aides say they continue to discuss specific language and issues for uncommitted Democrats.
"We have to make sure all our bases are covered, so we can take up and pass this bill," a leadership aide said.
They do not plan to go to a vote without assurances from members and do not predict getting more than the required 218 votes.
"We need members to reach a comfort level" with the specifics according to aides. House Leadership has established a "hot line" for members to get expert answers to questions from constituents and to better understand various nuances of the bill and potential impact to their own districts.
Democrats expect to get a kind of White House endorsement for the House bill today in what's known as a SAP, "Statement of Administration Policy," which would track the healthcare reform package.
Republicans, none of whom are likely to vote for a health reform bill, are already seizing on the possibility of a delay.
"If the Democratic Leader of the House is moving the goalposts, it's because Democrats can see the writing on the wall," said Ken Spain, the National Republican Campaign Committee's communications director. "A vote for yet another job-killing expansion of government in the wake of newly-released skyrocketing unemployment numbers would just be further proof of how politically tone-deaf the Democratic majority has become."
