Washington in 60 Seconds: Pelosi Still Short of Votes for Health Care Reform
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
03/18/10
Good morning, Capitolists! It's been a long and winding road to health care reform, so are we there yet? Nope.
Here's what making news in Washington in the meantime:
- And the CBO Says . . . It's been like a French farce as Democratic members of Congress have waited for the Congressional Budget Office to return a cost estimate of the latest version of the health care bill. The numbers are coming this morning, and Nancy Pelosi has said the bill will be posted online for 72 hours before the House votes -- which puts that at Sunday morning, at the earliest.
- Do They Have the Votes? Not yet. Our sources say House Democrats are still several votes away from passing the bill, even with the announcements that Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) will support it. Even if the House passes it, Senate Republicans will then take out their playbooks to pare, slow or kill the bill entirely.
- Rough Road for Stupak. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has led the fight against abortion coverage language in the Senate bill, but it hasn't been an easy road. "How's it been? Living hell," he told The Hill, adding that his wife has been affected by the outcry against him. "All the phones are unplugged at our house -- tired of the obscene calls and threats. She won't watch TV."
- Rain, Snow, Sleet, but No Saturday. Postmaster General John Potter testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee today, when he'll get grilled over where all the money goes that they give him every year. Now faced with yet another budget shortfall, Potter will tell the senators that the Postal Service may need to stop Saturday deliveries and close some post offices to make up the difference.
- Shhhhhhhh. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan heads to the House Appropriations Committee to testify about his agency's budget today, but he'll also be asked about changes he's made since the now-infamous gate-crashing incident by the Salahis at the White House state dinner in November.
- At Least One Job Created by the Stimulus. President Obama will sign the $17 billion jobs bill today, and Vice President Joe Biden used the occasion for a punch line at a black-tie gala in Washington last night. At an annual dinner with reporters, Biden insisted that the administration's $787 billion stimulus bill and other measures created at least one job in the last year -- "Scott Brown's."
Here's what making news in Washington in the meantime:
- And the CBO Says . . . It's been like a French farce as Democratic members of Congress have waited for the Congressional Budget Office to return a cost estimate of the latest version of the health care bill. The numbers are coming this morning, and Nancy Pelosi has said the bill will be posted online for 72 hours before the House votes -- which puts that at Sunday morning, at the earliest.
- Do They Have the Votes? Not yet. Our sources say House Democrats are still several votes away from passing the bill, even with the announcements that Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) will support it. Even if the House passes it, Senate Republicans will then take out their playbooks to pare, slow or kill the bill entirely.
- Rough Road for Stupak. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has led the fight against abortion coverage language in the Senate bill, but it hasn't been an easy road. "How's it been? Living hell," he told The Hill, adding that his wife has been affected by the outcry against him. "All the phones are unplugged at our house -- tired of the obscene calls and threats. She won't watch TV."
- Rain, Snow, Sleet, but No Saturday. Postmaster General John Potter testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee today, when he'll get grilled over where all the money goes that they give him every year. Now faced with yet another budget shortfall, Potter will tell the senators that the Postal Service may need to stop Saturday deliveries and close some post offices to make up the difference.
- Shhhhhhhh. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan heads to the House Appropriations Committee to testify about his agency's budget today, but he'll also be asked about changes he's made since the now-infamous gate-crashing incident by the Salahis at the White House state dinner in November.
- At Least One Job Created by the Stimulus. President Obama will sign the $17 billion jobs bill today, and Vice President Joe Biden used the occasion for a punch line at a black-tie gala in Washington last night. At an annual dinner with reporters, Biden insisted that the administration's $787 billion stimulus bill and other measures created at least one job in the last year -- "Scott Brown's."