House Health Bill Passes

Does the bill have all that the citizens of America deserve, and need? The House health care bill passed 220-215 in a late-night vote yesterday. Remember that Democrats won two special elections on Election Day on Tuesday. And this bill passed by two votes. Coincidence?

It was about a 13-hour day in the House, but throughout the day, Democrats sounded confident. The president stopped by to meet with the Democratic caucus in the morning, but Majority Whip Jim Clyburn acknowledged that Obama didn’t affect the vote. Obama likely wouldn’t have been there if the votes weren’t there — and the bill wouldn’t have come up for a vote.

So what happened from Friday, when Democrats seemed just short, and Saturday night? Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi behind closed doors, solved the abortion issue with pro-life Catholic Democrats. As many as 20 to 30 votes hinged on the abortion language. Pelosi got the endorsement of the Catholic Bishops, and she allowed — and said she suggested — that an amendment explicitly banning federal funding in the House bill, would be voted on. The amendment was introduced and pushed by Democrat Bart Stupak from Michigan. The amendment passed 240-196, and the Democrats kept the more liberal members, who threatened to vote against, in line.

For the overall bill, almost every Republican and 39 Democrats voted against it. They were mostly from swing districts in red states. The only “liberal” to vote against — Dennis Kucinich, who was upset that am amendment that would give states the right to opt for a single-payer system, was not allowed to come up for a vote.

Democrats also got the vote of one Republican — Ahn “Joseph” Cao — widely seen as the most vulnerable member of the House. He’s from the more liberal Louisiana district last represented by William “Money in the Freezer” Jefferson.

Here are the “no” votes:
1. Rep. John Adler (NJ)
2. Rep. Jason Altmire (PA)
3. Rep. Brian Baird (WA)
4. Rep. John Barrow (GA)
5. Rep. John Boccieri (OH)
6. Rep. Dan Boren (OK)
7. Rep. Rick Boucher (VA)
8. Rep. Allen Boyd (FL)
9. Rep. Bobby Bright (AL)
10. Rep. Ben Chandler (KT)
11. Rep. Travis Childers (MS)
12. Rep. Artur Davis (AL)
13. Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN)
14. Rep. Chet Edwards (TX)
15. Rep. Bart Gordon (TN)
16. Rep. Parker Griffith (AL)
17. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
18. Rep. Tim Holden (PA)
19. Rep. Larry Kissell (NC)
20. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (FL)
21. Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD)
22. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH)
23. Rep. Jim Marshall (GA)
24. Rep. Betsy Markey (CO)
25. Rep. Eric Massa (NY)
26. Rep. Jim Matheson(UT)
27. Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC)
28. Rep. Michael McMahon (NY)
29. Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA)
30. Rep. Walt Minnick (ID)
31. Rep. Scott Murphy (NY)
32. Rep. Glenn Nye (VA)
33. Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)
34. Rep. Mike Ross (AR)
35. Rep. Heath Shuler (NC)
36. Rep. Ike Skelton (MO)
37. Rep. John Tanner (TN)
38. Rep. Gene Taylor (MS)
39. Rep. Harry Teague (NM)