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Pelosi 'Wants A Bill,' Congress Should Work Through Recess
Asked at a press conference whether she'd support keeping the House of Representatives in session into the August recess to complete work on health care reform, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was fairly adamant.
"I think 70 percent of the American people would want that," she said. "I want a bill."
That could prove crucial if Blue Dogs hold up House Democrats' health care bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee much longer. The House is scheduled to adjourn on August 3rd. Whether or not she pushes that date back, though, it sounds like she's confident a bill will pass whenever it comes to the floor.
"I have no doubt we have the votes on the floor of the House to pass this legislation," she said.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Give 'em hell, Nancy!
July 22, 2009 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good for you, Nancy!
July 22, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Howard Dean's petition for healthcare reform:
http://www.standwithdrdean.com/
PEACE
July 22, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
They need to pass it before recess. She may have the votes now, but if they go home without passing it, there's going to be such intense pressure on the waverers that they may not have the votes afterwards.
I hope she decides to stay until something is passed. If members want to delay, delay, delay, they can give up their precious recess time.
July 22, 2009 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there any way to paint the waverers as wanting rather to go on vacation than actually passing something that matters to Americans? Seems like there could be a lot of sarcastic deep-voiced ads in that vein playing in waverer's districts through the recess, if the money could be found.
Of course, I'd rather see Nancy threaten everyone and the thing go through before recess....
July 22, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure the house GOP has precious few levers at hand to delay anything. If I'm understanding the dynamics at work, once the bluedogs on the HEEC committe are mollified, Pelosi can quickly move to a floor vote. Senate's a different animal, of course, but if the entire House votes approval, and the two Senate committees also pass something, that's a lot of momentum. The village idiots of the press might think otherwise, but this thing is going to happen.
July 22, 2009 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it insane of me to ascribe a certain amount of impetus for these delaying tactics to the rethuglican hope that maybe Ted Kennedy will croak before the vote...
July 22, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
An evil thought, but appropriately so.
July 22, 2009 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Delay just makes reform less likely in general. I doubt it has anything to do with Kennedy, as Governor Patrick would simply name a Democrat who is 100% likely to also support reform to replace him.
July 22, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I stand reassured! Thanks rebop!
July 22, 2009 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
In this vein I've sort of been wondering whether Teddy might want to resign his position, so we can have a Senator who is in better health and able to attend to his Senate duties.
I am fond of Sen. Kennedy, but I wonder whether it might not be a good time to step down, finally.
July 22, 2009 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
You cal bet your bottom dollar that he wants to be on the floor for the final vote on this. He can retire a few days after that if he takes the notion.
July 22, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point. But at this point I'm worried it won't reach the floor for a vote at all!
July 22, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pinson posting above isn't, as I was reading... I tend to think he's right. Hope so! :)
July 22, 2009 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
When discussing conservatives, if there are two possible motivations for their behavior and one is benign while the other evil, my experience is that the evil one always puts an extra gleam of happiness in their eyes.
Living in Texas is like living among beds of scorpions. You begin to realize just how common evil really is. And it frequently comes with a side order of Bible and Cross.
July 22, 2009 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mass. doesn't allow appointed Senators. There has to be an election, so Kennedy's demise would be a boost to Republicans.
July 22, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now this is good news. Guess what, Blue Dogs, we're staying in DC until there is a vote on health care.
Finally, Pelosi flexes a big. I'm not opposed to a bill that has GOP support, but it's got to have a public option and universal -- and it has to address cost.
July 22, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Nancy! America wants this bill
July 22, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
DC is so hot and muggy in August; it's enough to turn a blue dog red.
July 22, 2009 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just emailed speaker Pelosi a note of support for staying through the recess. Do the peoples' work! Tell the Blue Dogs to borrow Boehner's bronzer if they want a tan!
http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
July 22, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good idea! Give 'em hell, Nancy.
July 22, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It doesn't matter what progressives come up with, they are not going to make the Republicans happy.
But the main reason why health care is taking a hit, is because no media source ever says anything positive about it or the people proposing it.
Perfect example is this clip of Hannity worried about the government telling his kids to put down the video games. WHAT?!?!?
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2242
July 22, 2009 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look at the ads on CNN, MSNBC and Fox for the news - overwhelmingly pharmaceuticals. Restless leg, upset stomach, fibromyalgia and the like. Think the news bosses want to upset their #1 advertisers?
(The other ads are for the Snuggy and the Sham-wow, which have no legislation before Congress.)
July 22, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You go, girl! :-)
July 22, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see nothing but right wing ads every morning on msnbc, bloomberg, and cnbc. All are saying, "slow down".
Where is our side? We only seem to be targeting the evening crowd..
July 22, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The pro reform groups are targeting fence sitters, I would assume you are in an area that is considered safe or a lost cause.
July 22, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course We want this!!!
But when has that ever forced her into action?
We've wanted other things, too... and she takes them "off the table"... or makes deals to appease the Blue Dogs and not much happens.
I'll believe it when I see it.
IF I see it, I'll write her a letter of apology and congratulate her on a job well done.
July 22, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Finally one of the D's grows some balls...
July 22, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
This sounds promising. But I'm jaded and have to wonder: Is it just the usual Dem tough talk that's quickly followed by capitulation? Harry Reid wrote the book on this, but he's not alone.
July 22, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blame it on the Blue Dogs!
July 22, 2009 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink