Live Bloggin’ House Debate on Healthcare Reform
1134PM EST
House is adjourned until Monday. HR3962 passed 220-215
1131PM EST
nothing but resolutions and other crap going on right now.
1130PM EST
Normally you could criticize POLS for making gratuitous statements but of all people, Waxman, deserves a hand for thanking the grunts that put this crap together, as he says, through an unending set of nights and weekends to comply with POLS stupidity.
That’s right, left or right, H/T to the poor grunts who had to produce the stuff POLS are trying to sell you.
1033PM EST
Takin’ a break. Cantor is currently discussing tort reform.
1020PM EST
The Stupak amendment passed, 240 - 194
1015PM EST
The vote results should be coming soon.
1010PM EST
Now would be a good time for readers to submit comments. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a liberal or conservative. Just say what’s on your mind on this topic. Barring expletives your comment will not be deleted. Of course spam gets you spanked.
1002PM EST
This is a good time to remind readers to email or phone their elected reps to oppose HR3962.
958PM ESt
A fifteen minute time limit was announced for a recorded vote on the amendment.
956PM EST
A voice vote on the Stupak amendment followed by a request by Stupak for a recorded vote.
950PM EST
John Dingell cites the NYT fish wrap as a source to support HR3962. Need anyone say more. How pathetic.
944PM EST
Right now and for the last twenty minutes John Boehner is spanking the liberal healthcare reform fiasco for what it is…. more government intervention in citizens lives… with no benefit as advertised by the libs.
935PM EST
blogosphere update:
Liveblogging, Pt. 2: The hurry-up House debate on health care
927PM EST
John Boehner must have read this blog as he is doing a decent job this evening. 
920PM EST
Eric Cantor just made the point offered here a few entries ago on the GOP plan.
915PM EST
Rep Anthony Weiner (D-NY) just helped the GOP. He says they opposed Social Security when it was proposed years ago. He also says they opposed Medicare when it was proposed. And he says they oppose the current liberal plan.
Had this country taken a different path on these issues in the past and now we would not be suffering from the crushing debt and high taxes that could have gone for individuals designing their own American dream rather than making millions dependent on what we have now.
910PM EST
The debate continues. Given the Democrats are dissin’ the GOP plan for healthcare reform the following needs to be posted.
753PM EST
The live bloggin’ will be suspended for now. Tune in to C-SPAN for live coverage. Contact your elected reps via email or phone to express your opinions.
748PM EST
More pro and con statements on the amendment by various members.
745PM EST
Rep Diana DeGette (D-CO) opposes the amendment.
742PM EST
Stupak offers the amendment. The one that does not allow public funding of abortions.
732PM EST
It’s back to quick quips by both sides as time is running out on debate. Only a few minutes remain. Then what?
728PM EST
Moran from Kansas (R) indicates the bill creates 111 beauracracies and cuts only one, Medicare.
718PM EST
Boehner asks Miller if the bill is passed and goes to conference (with the Senate) will Miller guarantee the Stupak amendment will be retained. In other words Boehner asked for guarantees the majority would not change what is voted on in the House and Miller would not.
It may be political but it also demonstrates you cannot trust passing healthcare reform.
717PM EST
Rep Dan Burton (R-IN) expresses the $730 billion in new taxes for HR3962 as well as the trillion dollar plus cost of the bill. We’re over 10% on unemployment and this bill kills more jobs. (of course these posts are summaries and not verbatim quotes)
710PM EST
Now most of the debate is limited to very brief statements by those being recognized to speak. That is why these postings have slowed. There is less than 21 minutes total left to each side for this debate.
651PM EST
Rep Chu from CA among other things claimed she supports the bill so a woman’s kids in California can get glasses but she doesn’t have vision care coverage.
Most vision care coverage this blogger has seen cost about as much as paying for the exam and glasses yourself. And many optical services offer discounts that make it affordable. But by all means, pass a trillion dollar plus bill to pay for such things if it actually does.
One last blogger comment on this, if you cannot afford children then don’t have them. At least not until you can afford them. Duh.
640PM EST
Rep Brett Guthrie (R-KY) gave a list of taxes HR3962 places on individuals and businesses. Here are two of them. Tax penalty if you don’t buy health insurance and taxing health savings plans.
637PM EST
Suffice it to say the Speaker is spilling out her usual dribble. No substantive contribution to the debate, just Kennedy anecdotes and a list of liberal organizations supporting the legislation.
Have you ever stopped to consider those who support this bill do so because they don’t care where the money comes from as long as it keeps coming? How’s that going to reduce the cost of healthcare? And how silly is it to think someone else will have to pay for it?
631PM EST
Now we have to suffer through a speech by Nancy Pelosi.
630PM EST
Rep Judy Biggert R-IL just answered the question in a unique way. She had offered an amendment to guarantee citizens could keep the health insurance they have if they want to. The Democratic party majority defeated the amendment.
How’s that for an answer Mr Andrews !!!
625PM EST
Here’s a hint where you can find the answer to the last entry. Sec 202, pp 91-92 and Sec 303, pp 167-168.
615PM EST
Rep Rob Andrews (D) challenged the GOP to show where in the bill it says people will be forced into the public option.
610PM EST
Tim Pawlenty was brief and to the point. All the contradictions like hurtin’ seniors with the bill but AARP supports it. Killing the doctor/patient relationship but AMA supports it.
Hmmm, he’s got a point!!
609PM EST
Here comes Petri from Wisconsin. Unemployment is 10.2% and Congress will break the bank and the economy with this silly bill. Not his words but this is… budgetary train wreck.
606PM
A sad, sad anecdote from Rep Lynn Woolsey (D-CA-6) about not having insurance with three children. Oops. Her time expired.
6PM EST….
Blowhard George Miller just finished another OMG we’re all gonna go broke if we don’t pass healthcare reform speech. He of course didn’t mention going broke from no job or all the tax increases this bill will require.