Health Care

Obama To House: 'Vote Yes'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 7, 2009, 1:37PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama

President Obama is calling on representatives to pass the sweeping health care reform bill scheduled for a floor vote tonight.

"This is our moment to live up to the trust that the American people have put in us," he said in a public address on the grounds of the White House just now.

"I urge members of Congress to rise to this moment, answer the call of history, and vote 'yes' for health insurance reform for America," Obama said.

Obama made the speech shortly after returning from a closed-door meeting with House Democrats at the Capitol.

The House is expected to vote on the measure late tonight, read our primer here.

Read Obama's full statement here.

Health Care

GOP House Leader Counting On Bill Passage

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 7, 2009, 12:58PM

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)

There's still a chance that tonight's House vote on a health care reform bill may not happen -- or that even if it does, it may not with a victory for Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership.

Apparently, House GOP conference chair Mike Pence knows something journalists and political observers don't about the bill's chances tonight. He just posted this to his official website:

PENCE DENOUNCES HOUSE PASSAGE OF PELOSI HEALTH CARE BILL

(h/t Glenn Thrush)

Health Care

Pelosi: 'We Will Pass Health Care Reform'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 7, 2009, 12:46PM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders just emerged from a closed-door caucus meeting that included a personal appearance by President Obama confident the House will pass a sweeping health care reform bill today.

Addressing reporters outside the caucus meeting room just now, Pelosi looked back briefly before announcing what seemed like a deal to pass reform.

It was three years ago today that Pelosi led Democrats to retake the House after more than a decade of Republican control. She said the date was "appropriate."

"It is appropriate that the promise we made [to voters] ... will be manifested today," she said. "We will pass health care reform."

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GOP

RNC Distributes 'Obama Agenda' Push Poll To Raise Money

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 6, 2009, 4:38PM

Republican Party Logo

The RNC recently sent out a fundraising letter that includes a "survey" about President Obama's "agenda" that the Washington Post is calling a dishonest push poll.

"Are you in favor of reinstituting the military draft, as Democrats in Congress have proposed?" one question on the 15-question survey reads.

TPM obtained a copy of "2009 Obama Agenda Survey" sent to one Kansas voter. Read it here.

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Capitol Hill Tea Party

King Calls For Tea Party II Tomorrow At The Capitol

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 6, 2009, 3:24PM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) at the Capitol Hill tea party.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is calling the Tea Partiers back to D.C.

Much like Rep. Michele Bachmann did last week, King is calling on Tea Partiers to head to the Capitol and protest the Democratic health care reform bill. King is calling on the protesters to meet at 1 p.m. tomorrow, the day the House is expected to hold its floor vote on the bill.

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Capitol Hill Tea Party

No Tea Partiers Were Harmed In The Protesting Of This Health Care Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 6, 2009, 12:01PM

U.S. Capitol, Tea-party rally

As Christina reported yesterday, there were multiple arrests made yesterday in and around Speaker Nancy Peolsi's office in the Cannon House Office Building. A dozen people were arrested in connection with their efforts to disrupt business at Pelosi's office. All were charged with misdemeanor offenses.

Police say none were tea partiers.

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Capitol Hill Tea Party

Remember, Remember The Fifth Of November -- A Day With The Tea Partiers

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 5, 2009, 4:37PM

Tea Party protesters at Capitol Hill on Nov. 5, 2009.

The first thing you need to know about the Tea Partiers: they take their traffic laws very seriously.

In a city known for its jaywalking, roll-through red lights and the white-knuckled anarchy of the traffic circle, the thousands of flag-carrying jeans-clad protesters who descended on Capitol Hill today stood out in the D.C. morning rush hour by literally standing -- they waited patiently curbside as "Don't Walk" signs counted all the way down to "Walk" outside D.C.'s Union Station transit hub while caffeine-fueled Hill staffers (and at least one reporter) rushed past them into a sea of beeping horns and one-finger arguments about who has the right of way.

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Tea Party

GOP Members Of Congress To Join Bachmann's Event Today

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 5, 2009, 8:10AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Politico snagged an email from the RNC Republican Study Committee last night revealing that the GOP caucus in Congress will be joining Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) Tea Party event on Capitol Hill today.

RNCRepublican Study Committee communications director Brendan Buck sent the email, which tells GOP congressional aides to expect somewhere between 1,000 and 10,000 health care reform protesters today. Buck also calls on the aides to send their members to the Capitol Steps for the event hosted by Michele Bachmann at noon. But Buck offered a word of warning about the gathering of speakers and protesters, too.

"PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR BOSS DOES NOT TERM THIS EVENT A 'RALLY," Buck wrote.

Editor's Note: This post has been revised since it was first published.

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Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann, Tea Partiers Prepare For Last Stand On Health Care

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 4, 2009, 11:16PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and the Tea Party Patriots are not expecting a warm reception on Capitol Hill Thursday. In a series of conference calls Wednesday night, representatives of the "thousands" of tea partiers who have promised to heed Bachmann's call to make a "last stand" against Democratic-led health care reform told their members to expect the worst from the members of Congress they plan to lobby.

"The attitude we're facing right now is very hostile," Tea Party Patriot national organizer Jenny Beth Martin said on a conference call for regional leaders TPMDC sat in on Wednesday night. "The [members] don't even want to hear from us on these issues."

Martin, Bachmann and RedState.com's Erick Erickson told regional organizers on the calls that Thursday's rally and storm through the halls of Congress were the tea partiers last chance to stop what Bachmann called the Democrats' plan to "literally have the power of life and death over you."

"There are no other rabbits to pull out of the hat," Bachmann said. "This is the only thing I can think to do."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Refuses To Speak About Chief Of Staff Resignation

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 4, 2009, 9:04PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) just finished up a conference call with conservative bloggers in preparation for tomorrow's Tea Party Patriot anti-health care reform rally she's hosting at the Capitol. TPMDC joined the call and asked Bachmann about the big story coming out of her office today: the resignation of her chief of staff, which some Republicans speculated was due to media stunts like the one she's hosting tomorrow.

Bachmann refused to answer questions about the resignation, saying tersely, "out of respect for privacy, I don't comment on personnel matters."

Pressed on whether her staff has been upheaval over the Bachmann-led Tea Party Rally tomorrow, Bachmann again refused to respond. "I've already given my answer," she said.

AARP

AARP To Make 'Major Announcement' On Health Care Tomorrow, Won't Confirm Rumors Of House Bill Endorsement

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 4, 2009, 4:37PM

AARP logo

The AARP is planning a major announcement on health care tomorrow, an official told TPMDC tonight. But the group won't confirm today's AP story that AARP is ready to endorse the health care reform bill presented by House Democrats this week.

AARP's announcement will come at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the group's D.C. headquarters, the official said. Should it be the subject of the briefing, an AARP endorsement of the House bill would be a big victory for supporters of the Democratic reform package. AARP is second to none when it comes to influence on policies related to seniors, and the backing would give the bill a stamp of approval from one of the most powerful non-partisan groups in the country.

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Michael Steele

Steele: 'GOP Renaissance Has Begun'...And I Helped

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 4, 2009, 11:07AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

RNC chair Michael Steele bounded up to the podium at his post-election press conference at Republican Party HQ in Washington this morning.

"How's everyone feeling?" he said with a big grin. When the two dozen or so bleary eyed reporters in the audience failed to respond to the question, his grin grew even larger. "That good, huh?"

For the next 30 minutes, Steele raved on about his party's victories last night -- and on his role in making them happen.

"The GOP renaissance has begun," he said, before borrowing a line from President Obama's campaign last year. "This election was not about 'the change we need.' It's about the change the American people want."

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Michael Steele

Steele To Meet The Press Tomorrow

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 10:52PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

After hopping a plane to New Jersey earlier this evening as returns began to show a victory for Republican governor-elect Chris Christie, RNC chair Michael Steele will head back to the airport to fly back to to D.C. and gloat to the press about his party's dual wins in both New Jersey and Virginia.

Steele will host a 10 a.m. press conference at RNC headquarters in Washington, where he'll talk about tonight's victories (and maybe a defeat, too -- as of this post, the Democratic nominee is still leading in NY-23). The victory lap comes less than a year after Steele began his turbulent tenure as the head of the Republican party, and it's fair to say it will be the first objectively great day for Republicans since President Obama's victory last November. Expect to see a lot of smiles from a lot of tired Republican operatives who won't be getting much sleep tonight.

VA-GOV

All Politics Is Local For McDonnell Tonight

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 10:08PM

As national GOP leaders continue to suggest his victory his a boon for Republicans across the country, governor-elect Bob McDonnell kept it local in his Virginia victory speech tonight.

"To my fellow Virginians I say I am very humbled and honored," McDonnell told a cheering crowd at his victory rally in Richmond tonight. "I am ready to go to work to serve you and help lead Virginia for the next four years."

He made no mention of the national Republican resurgence GOP leaders say McDonnell's landslide victory over Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds brings with it.

"For those of you who are here who supported me I say 'thank you,'" McDonnell said. "For those of you who did not support me I say, 'give me a chance to earn your trust.'"

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VA-GOV

Jim Webb Congratulates McDonnell, Appeals For Bipartisanship

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 9:31PM

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)

Republicans control the all of Virginia's statewide state government posts now, but Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) appealed to them tonight to let the party they just decimated continue to have a voice in Richmond.

From Webb's statement on the races in Virginia tonight:

"I am very familiar with long and divisive campaigns. I am confident that, with the close of campaign season tonight, we can put partisanship aside and work collectively to further the best interests of Virginia and our people."

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VA-GOV

DGA To Deeds: You Can't Beat Fate

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 9:19PM

VA-Gov. candidate Creigh Deeds (D)

The Democratic Governors Association just offered its condolences to Creigh Deeds, who just went down in a landslide to Republican Bob McDonnell in Virgina. The DGA suggested that Deeds' defeat wasn't a failure for Democrats, but was instead the GOP just doing "what every opposition party has done for the past 36 years" -- win VA-Gov.

From DGA executive director Nathan Daschle's statement tonight:

"With the worst recession since the Great Depression and history favoring the other side, we knew this race would be difficult. Sen. Deeds ran a strong campaign, despite all the headwinds he faced. Sen. Deeds is a bipartisan leader whose work has helped countless Virginians get a better education and created economic opportunity in every corner of the state. Unfortunately, he couldn't overcome the major obstacles to victory."

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VA-GOV

Voters Say 'Thanks But No Thanks' To VA-Gov

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 5:55PM

VA-GOV Candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R)

Though it's been the talk of national pundits for weeks, the Virginia gubernatorial contest has not caught the attention of voters.

From the AP:

Turnout in the race between Democrat R. Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell was light to moderate across the state.

FL-SEN

Is Charlie Crist The Next Moderate GOPer On Right-Wing Hit List?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 3:21PM

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R)

No matter what the final outcome, the NY-23 race has changed the game for Republican primaries. Conservatives across the country are now in a search for the next Dede Scozzafava, the establishment GOP nominee Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman was able to defeat by convincing rank-and-file Republicans to leave the candidate their party's leaders had chosen.

In Florida, Marco Rubio's campaign says conservatives have found their new Dede in Gov. Charlie Crist.

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Health Care

HCAN: We Haven't Had Private Discussions With Reid About Lieberman

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 12:15PM

A Health Care For America Now spokesperson shot down the idea that progressives "inside the beltway" have a different view on Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) threats to filibuster health care reform than pro-reform groups outside D.C. do.

An article published in The Hill last night suggested progressives inside the beltway expected Lieberman to vote for cloture, based on discussions with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about private talks between the two senators.

Today, HCAN spokesperson Jacki Schechner denied that any such discussions had taken place and said that her group "is just as angry at Lieberman as anyone else" about Lieberman's anti-public option rhetoric. But Schechner that her group believes the threats from Lieberman to filibuster health care reform will prove to be hollow when all is said and done.

"It's political posturing," she said. "We think Lieberman will come around."

VA-GOV

GOPers Already Moving On To 'McDonnell 2012' Storyline

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 10:01AM

Va-Gov Candidate Bob McDonnell

The polls haven't closed on the Virginia gubernatorial race, but already Republicans think they have a future star in their nominee, Bob McDonnell. Columnist Jill Lawrence writes that some in the GOP see McDonnell landing on a national ticket in four or eight years.

From Politics Daily:

John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College and a former Republican aide on Capitol Hill, went further in an e-mail to me -- calling McDonnell "as plausible as anyone else" for president or vice president in 2012.

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Health Care

Report: Lieberman Won't Filibuster Health Care After All

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 3, 2009, 8:35AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

"Sources" close to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told The Hill yesterday that Reid is expecting Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to vote with the Democratic majority to close debate and move to a final vote when Reid's health care bill hits the Senate floor. Lieberman's public promises to join a GOP filibuster of the bill because it contains a public option are just his attempt to influence the final bill, the sources told the newspaper -- in reality, Lieberman is not a threat to an up or down vote on health care reform.

One Reid source, from The Hill's report:

"Lieberman keeps assuring Reid that he's OK...But he's one of those characters -- you never know with Joe."

Lieberman's official spokesperson denied the claim from Reid's office when the The Hill called. But the paper reports "connected" progressives inside the beltway share Reid's take. "Activists and liberal bloggers" have "seethed" over Lieberman's public comments because they are "out of the loop" on his actual thinking, the paper reports.

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Cap-and-Trade

Boxer Slows Cap-And-Trade Markup, Implores GOP To Return To The Table

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 6:44PM

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said this evening she plans to fight Republican plans to slow the process of the cap-and-trade bill through the Senate with "patience."

"We're going to wait for them to come," she said at a press conference. "We're not going to rush this through."

Last week, the Republican members of the Environment and Public Works Committee Boxer chairs said they would boycott a markup of the the cap-and-trade bill scheduled for tomorrow. Led by committee ranking member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), the GOP contingent on the committee say they need more time to review the law and it's potential economic effects.

Their plans to delay the bill appear to have succeeded. Faced with the GOP plan, Boxer said the Democratic majority on the committee decided to "reach our hand across the aisle" and accommodate some of the GOP concerns.

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John Boehner

Boehner Offers 'Shrug' To Foxx's Terrorism/Dem Health Care Bill Comparison

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 5:10PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

House minority leader John Boehner refused to take a stand on Rep. Virginia Foxx's (R-NC) claim that Democratic-led health care reform is a worse threat to America than "any terrorist right now in any country."

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Boehner was asked about the statement, which Foxx made on the House floor. "Members are entitled to their own opinions," he said when asked if he agreed with the sentiment.

When pressed on whether Foxx's rhetoric "helped the debate" on health care, which the GOP in the House are trying to win against a large Democratic majority, Boehner sat quietly for a few seconds as though he was carefully considering his answer. Eventually he leaned back and grinned.

"I this is the part where you guys get the old Boehner shrug," he said to the reporters gathered around him before moving on to the next question.

NY-23

Boehner: 'Yes,' I Regret Giving Money To Dede Scozzafava

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 4:46PM

House Minority Leader John Boehner

The leader of Republicans in the House said today that he regrets backing his party's nominee in the NY-23 special election. At a press conference with reporters on health care this afternoon, House Minority Leader was asked if he regretted his past endorsement and financial support for Dede Scozzafava, the GOP nominee in the race who dropped out over the weekend and endorsed her Democratic rival.

"Yes," Boehner said, flatly.

"This lady clearly has an agenda that's different from that of the Republican Party," he added. "She was out there to promote herself."

Boehner said that like the rest of the GOP establishment, he's turned his allegiances to the Conservative Party candidate in the race, Doug Hoffman. Boehner said he "looks forward to welcoming" Hoffman into the GOP caucus and said he hopes Hoffman beats Democratic nominee Bill Owens tomorrow.

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Health Care

House GOP Aim To Fight Pelosi Bill With Women

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 4:29PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)

House Republicans plan a full court press on health care this week, including the release of their own version of a health care reform bill. GOP leaders said today their goal is to make passage of the bill offered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week "as difficult as possible to vote for," and plan to use women to fight it.

"Our women leaders will take the premiere role" in a multi-pronged attack on the bill this week, House GOP conference chair Mike Pence said at press briefing with House minority leader John Boehner this afternoon.

The rest of their plans to combat the Pelosi bill include attacking specific provisions the pair said show the bill's true intent -- to nationalize the American health care system. They said that if the public read the bill, they would be outraged at the Democratic health care reform plans. Pence said his party intends to make sure the GOP reading of the bill is heard.

"Americans deserve to know what's in the bill," he said.

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Sarah Palin

Biden And Palin Battle Each Other In NY-23

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 1:54PM

Vice President Joe Biden, Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R)

Via Facebook today, Sarah Palin took on Vice President Joe Biden over comments he made about her support for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 race.

At a rally over the weekend, Biden called out Palin over her approach to energy policy. Biden's comments, as ABC News reported them:

"Sarah Palin thinks the answer to energy is 'Drill, baby, drill.' " Biden said...Then he leaned in to the microphone: "It's a lot more complicated, Sarah."

On Facebook today, Palin seemed eager to step into the ring again with the man she battled for the vice-presidency last year. From her post:

There's one way to tell Vice President Biden that we're tired of folks in Washington distorting our message and hampering our nation's progress: Hoffman, Baby, Hoffman!

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VA-GOV

Polls Continue To Show McDonnell's Surge

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 12:36PM

VA-Gov. candidate Robert McDonnell (R)

The good news for Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell just keeps getting better. A pair of new polls out today show McDonnell's already large lead over Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds has grown even larger as the hours tick down to tomorrow's vote.

The latest numbers from Public Policy Polling (D) show McDonnell leading by 14. SurveyUSA's newest numbers show McDonnell's lead at 18 points.

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Joe Wilson

Rep. Joe Wilson Blames Obama For Vaccine Shortage -- After Voting Against Vaccine Funding

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 11:24AM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) says President Obama has endangered American lives by not doing more to alleviate the nation's short supply of H1N1 vaccine. In a new interview with the conservative-leaning CNSNews.com, Wilson says Obama's administration is "solely responsible" for the vaccine shortage, which he said are related to promises America made to donate vaccine to some foreign allies.

From the interview:

"The current administration is solely responsible. They can't blame this on any prior administration," said Wilson. "This is the responsibility of the current administration. They've put the lives of Americans at risk."

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin GOTV Robocalls Hit VA

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 9:22AM

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is urging Virginia voters to turn out tomorrow and "vote for Sarah's principles" "vote to share our principles" in a new robocall that began rolling out across the state this weekend. The calls are paid for by a group run by former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed, and do not mention the name of any candidate, including GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell.

More from the call script, first reported this morning by CNN's Peter Hamby:

"The eyes of America will be on Virginia and make no mistake about it, every vote counts. So don't take anything for granted, vote your values on Tuesday, and urge your friends and family to vote, too."

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VA-GOV

Undecideds Choosing McDonnell In Final Days

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 1, 2009, 11:43AM

Va-Gov Candidate Bob McDonnell

With two days to go in the state's gubernatorial race, Virginia voters are coming home to GOP nominee Bob McDonnell. That's according to numbers from an important new poll published in state newspapers today.

McDonnell has led Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds since June, a lead that has extended to double digits in recent days. But polls also showed many were still undecided in the race, giving Democrats hope for a Deeds upset Tuesday. The new numbers show those undecided voters have made up their minds -- and they've decided to vote for McDonnell.

McDonnell's lead has grown with the new support. He now dominates Deeds in the Mason-Dixon Poll, 53-41.

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