Spending

Thirteen House Dems Vote With GOP To Defund Obama 'Czars'

Brian Beutler | February 17, 2011, 7:46PM

President Barack Obama

Thirteen Democrats bolstered the GOP's frame that several of President Obama's unconfirmed advisers are "czars" by voting for an amendment to the House spending bill that would defund their offices.

They are Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK), Ben Chandler (D-KY), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Pete DeFazio (D-OR), Gene Green (D-TX), Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Heath Shuler (D-NC).

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Health Care

Dem Trashes GOP 'Replace' Health Care Bill: We Already Did That! (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 4, 2011, 1:49PM

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) sounds like an old commercial for pasta sauce these days. With less than 24 hours to go before the Republicans take over in the House and begin their quest to repeal and replace the Democrats' landmark health care reform law, Cuellar -- a new member of the House minority leadership -- told reporters today that whatever reforms the Republicans want to put in place as part of the "replace" portion of their agenda, the Democrats have already done it.

In essence, to paraphrase Prego, "it's in there."

At the House Democratic majority leadership's final press conference before Speaker Boehner and company are sworn in tomorrow, Cuellar read through the succinct health care "replace" bill House Republicans are planning to introduce this week. The bill is essentially a list of instructions for newly Republican-run committees to take up health care reform once (in theory) the Democratic law is repealed.

For each directive on the bill -- "preserve a patient's ability to keep his or her health plan if he or she likes it" is one example -- Cuellar had a simple response: we already did that.

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Health Care

Cuellar To Vote 'Yes'

Christina Bellantoni | March 20, 2010, 5:11PM

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)

Pro-life Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) will vote for the health care legislation tomorrow, his office announced today in a statement. Cuellar voted for the bill last fall but was considered undecided this week thanks to the issue of the abortion language. He brings the Democrats that much closer to the needed 216 for passage.

In his statement he cited the number of uninsured in his district and the nearly $1.5 trillion deficit reduction included in the health care legislation. "In a time of extreme economic challenges, this is a pivotal moment for the nation to stem rising premiums and begin containing health care costs for the future. No longer can we stand idle as Americans compromise their health because they can't afford to get care," Cuellar said.

Our list of potential switchers is here.