First Read

Abortion key to health vote

2009-11-06T23:17:00Z

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro, Mike Viqueira, and Luke RussertHouse Democrats "intend" to bring the health-reform bill to a vote tomorrow on the House floor. But as many as 20 to 30 votes could hinge on abortion. Fix abortion, the bill passes, one Democrat said. Don't fix it, it doesn't. Many of these members are waiting for a yay or nay from the Conference of Catholic Bishops on the abortion language. Moderates Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), two of the central figures in this...(read more)

Week Ahead: Congress' prescription

2009-11-06T22:23:00Z

THE WEEK AHEAD: Health vote nears ... Obama heads to Asia ... Plouffe book out ... Pawlenty to Mexico ... Spitzer talks ethics? ... Meet the Press has Barbour/Rendell Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy...(read more)

Clinton addresses policy forum

2009-11-06T22:22:00Z

From NBC's Ali Weinberg and Wendy Jones
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today addressed the first public policy forum of NoLimits.org, an education foundation focusing on issues like work-family policies, healthcare reform and human rights. The nonpartisan group was founded by Ann Lewis, whose brother is House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank.

Clinton said she recognized many friends in the audience, including her best friend from sixth grade, as well as many whom she met "in the cauldron of the 2008 election." She called Lewis Rep. Frank's "long-suffering sister," joking about Lewis's reaction to Frank's speech earlier at the forum: "He did great but his shirt was untucked!"

Although the speech was devoted mostly to Clinton's experience thus far as Secretary of State, she did comment on some of the day's news, expressing optimism about the House passing its health care bill tomorrow.

...(read more)

Health reform sticking points

2009-11-06T22:03:00Z

From NBC's Doug Adams
With word that the healthcare reform vote may slip in the House, it's clear that Democrats are still scrambling to get to enough of their members on board. With the assumption that no Republicans will support the bill, Democrats (who now number 258) need to keep their defections to under 40 in order to get to a bare majority of 218 votes.

There are a couple of different factions. Many of the moderate Blue Dog Democrats think the overall bill is too expensive and chances are a big handful of them will vote against the bill. Then, there are some Democrats in marginal districts who are worried about their re-election race -- in some cases the leadership could give them a pass to oppose.

And two policy sticking points have emerged -- abortion and immigration.

Here's a short primer on those two bugaboos:

...(read more)

House Dems expect vote tomorrow

2009-11-06T19:54:00Z

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Democratic House leadership contends there will, in fact, be a vote tomorrow on health-reform legislation -- despite reports suggesting a vote could be pushed back to Sunday or even next week.

An aide told First Read that "assuming all goes well," they are aiming for a vote late afternoon/early evening tomorrow. The aide, however, conceded the vote could slip later into tomorrow evening.

"We still expect to vote on health care tomorrow," the aide said.

The only thing that could push it off -- aside from not having the votes, and Dems don't have those yet -- are procedural delays by Republicans.

But Republican leadership says that's not part of the plan.

A GOP aide said they are happy to watch Democrats "flopping around like landed haddock." (For those wondering, haddock is a deep water cod.)

...(read more)

Health vote could slip to next week

2009-11-06T17:19:00Z

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."

...(read more)

First thoughts: The race to 218

2009-11-06T14:12:00Z

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** The race to 218 -- or more: Tomorrow night, the House is expected to vote on the Democrats' health care bill. And from now until then, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's goal -- as well as President Obama’s -- will be this: getting at least 218 votes. The next 48 hours are going to be wild, but considering the country’s focus on the tragedy to Ft. Hood, the battle will take place mostly behind the scenes and out of the media spotlight....(read more)

GOP watch: Bachmann's day

2009-11-06T14:09:00Z

Former President George W. Bush will deliver a keynote address at SMU on Nov. 12 outlining his vision for his policy institute, which will be part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, his office said yesterday. Dana Milbank on yesterday's Tea Party protestors: "Many of the demonstrators chanted 'Weasel Queen,' their pet name for the speaker of the House. Others wore masks of Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.); they were covered in fake blood and carrying...(read more)

Congress: The Dems’ calculated risk

2009-11-06T14:09:00Z

The Washington Post looks at Nancy Pelosi’s race to get 218 votes. “Although confident of victory, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and other Democratic leaders were working to limit defections to the roughly 25 Democrats viewed as "hard no" votes. There will be 258 Democrats in the House by the time the vote takes place, but to secure the 218 votes needed for passage -- and with prospects dim for Republican converts -- Pelosi can afford to lose no more than 40 members of her caucus.” More: “For...(read more)

Obama agenda: Peace, out?

2009-11-06T14:08:00Z

Peace, out? “President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, citing dismay over the progress of US-brokered peace initiatives, said yesterday that he does not want to run for reelection when his term ends in January, potentially upending the Obama administrations strategy for the region. But advisers and analysts said it was possible he was merely venting frustration over a dialogue with the United States and Israel that has undercut him politically without any marked progress toward the creation...(read more)