Research Briefing

On Verge Of Health Care Vote, Will Obama And Pelosi Make House Dems Walk The Plank Again?

AFTER VOTING FOR CLINTON’S BTU TAX IN 1993, DEMOCRAT REP. MARJORIE MARGOLIES-MEZVINSKY LOST SEAT IN CONGRESS

In 1993, Freshman Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (D-PA) Voted For Clinton’s Energy Tax, After Voting Against It.  ”She voted against the Clinton plan, with its broad Btu tax, when it first came before the House in May. But when the roll was called Aug. 5 on the final package, which involved a 4.3 cents-per-gallon gasoline tax increase instead of the big Btu tax, Ms. Margolies-Mezvinsky cast the vote that put Democrats over the top, 218-216 … The flip-flop ruffled feathers back home. ‘There were a lot of angry people,’ Ms. Margolies-Mezvinsky conceded …” (Thomas Galvin, “Lawmaker’s Tax Flip-Flop Angers Some,” The Dallas Morning News, 9/12/1993)

Margolies-Mezvinsky’s Constituents Felt Betrayed, Accused Her Of Bowing To “Partisan Pressures.” “‘She’s a traitor to her constituents,’ Renninger said. ‘She said one thing and did another and gave an excuse. That’s what we’ve got enough of - excuses.’ Margolies-Mezvinsky voted against the budget proposal last spring and consistently said she wouldn’t be swayed by partisan pressures. She said last week she knew changing her mind would bring wrath from constituents. Manufacturer John Weber, 38, of Norristown, counted himself as one of those angry constituents. ‘She had the opportunity to shine, but she rode the party line,’ Weber said …” (“Lawmaker’s Vote Stirs Up Hornet’s Nets,” The Associated Press, 8/8/93)

Her Vote For BTU Tax, After Phone Conversation With Clinton Minutes Before, Cost Her The Election. “After being the only Democratic freshman to vote against both President Clinton’s budget and $16.3 billion economic stimulus package in 1993, she reversed herself on the budget and cast one of the two final votes that gave Clinton a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the House, 218-216. She said she changed her mind after a phone conversation with Clinton 15 minutes before the vote. She lost her 1994 re-election bid in her largely affluent Philadelphia district, in large part because of her vote for the budget, which raised taxes on the wealthy.” (Tom Raum, “Being Last Holdout Can Be High-Risk Maneuver,” The Associated Press, 2/26/97)

IN JUNE, OBAMA & PELOSI PUSHED THROUGH BTU 2, MAKING MANY DEMS “WALK THE PLANK”

In June, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) “Laid Down The Gauntlet” To Rush Through National Energy Tax. “Pelosi laid down the gauntlet late Monday, announcing plans to bring the 1,200-plus-page bill to the floor on Friday ... Indeed, Pelosi is pushing the climate change measure full tilt, and enormous pressure is already building for rank-and-file Democrats to fall into line. ‘People may not like it, but it’s very tough to bet against the Speaker,’ said one Democratic strategist” (Steven T. Dennis and Tory Newmyer, “Pelosi Flexes Muscle,” Roll Call, 6/24/09)

Obama Made Calls, Deployed Rahm Emanuel And Cabinet Members To Lobby Undecided Dems. “Mindful of the stakes, Obama deployed chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, climate change adviser Carol Browner and several Cabinet officials to lobby undecided lawmakers... The president made calls to undecided members and appealed to others in an afternoon speech.” (Jim Tankersley and James Oliphant, “House Seems Poised To Pass Energy Bill; Democratic Leaders Expected To Hold Vote After Obama Lobbying,” Sun-Sentinel, 6/26/09)

Obama, Pelosi “Pushed The Measure Through Despite Worries” Of Increasing “Electricity And Fuel Prices.” “The narrow House passage, 219-212, is a victory for President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who pushed the measure through despite worries about reshaping the U.S. energy landscape during a recession and the likelihood that it will push up electricity and fuel prices.” (Dave Michaels, “Climate Bill Wins House Approval Stringent Limits On Emissions Could Affect Texas The Most,” The Dallas Morning News, 6/27/09)

Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) Admitted “A Lot Of People Walked The Plank On A Bill That Will Never Become Law.” (Molly K. Hooper, “Boehner: Climate Bill A ‘Pile Of S--T,’” The Hill, 6/27/09)

NOW OBAMA & PELOSI PUSHING HOUSE DEMS TO VOTE FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT

House Dems To Vote On Obama’s $1 Trillion Health Care Experiment This Weekend. “House Democratic leaders, undeterred by delays in the Senate or this week’s Republican electoral triumphs, plan to call a vote Saturday on the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. health-care policy in four decades.” (James Rowley, “House Prepares Health Vote, Undaunted By Elections,” Bloomberg, 11/5/09)

And Obama Will Endorse Bill As He Prepares To Visit Capitol Hill Tomorrow To Lobby House Dems. “The White House will come out strongly in support of the House bill on Friday, an administration source tells POLITICO. The statement of administration policy will lay out the reasons that President Obama endorses the bill … But when Obama arrives on Capitol Hill Saturday to rally House lawmakers ahead of an expected vote later that day, they will all know exactly where he stands.” (Chris Frates, “White House Backs House Bill,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 11/5/09)

But Bill Paid For By $730 Billion In Tax Hikes, Including Income Tax Increase On Many Small Businesses That Will Kill Jobs. “This [surtax] would hit job creators especially hard because more than six of every 10 who earn that much are small business owners, operators or investors, according to a 2007 Treasury study... America’s successful small businesses would pay higher tax rates than the Fortune 500, and for that matter than most companies around the world ...” (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of Possible Modifications To The Revenue Provisions Of H.R. 3962, The ‘Affordable Health Care For America Act’,” Joint Committee On Taxation Publication, 10/29/09; Editorial, “The Small Business Surtax,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/14/09)

As Well As $456 Billion In Cuts To Medicare And Medicaid, Cuts House Dems Admit Would Force Doctors To Decline Seniors. “Rep. Eric Massa said tightening provider payments could lead to access problems for patients. ‘We will force doctors to decline Medicare patients,’ he said after a raucous town-hall meeting in Upstate New York. ‘If we believe these savings are there, let’s test the concept. But we can’t hinge the entire funding of this bill on these not-yet-seen savings.’”  (Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Honor Charles B. Rangel, 10/29/09; Ceci Connolly, “Seniors Remain Wary of Health-Care Reform,” The Washington Post, 8/9/09) 

BUT DEMS AFRAID OF BEING THE NEXT MARGOLIES-MEZVINSKY KNOW IT’S JUST BTU 3

After Tuesday, Dems Admit Obama’s Agenda Too Focused On Growing Government Instead Of Jobs.  “Many Democratic politicians and operatives publicly and privately say Obama’s ‘big bang’ strategy -- trying to move several major policy initiatives in his first year -- has also caused independent voters to question whether he is sufficiently focused on their primar y concern, reviving the stagnant economy.”  (John F. Harris and Alexander Burns, “We Got Walloped,” Politico, 11/5/09)

And ABC News’ Gary Langer Agrees: “Vast Economic Discontent Marked The Mood Of Tuesday’s Off-Year Voters, Portending Potential Trouble For Incumbents Generally And Democrats In Particular In 2010.” (Gary Langer, “‘09 Exit Polls: Voters Approve Of Obama, Wary Of Economy,” ABC News, 11/4/09)

Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) Said Tuesday’s Elections “Sent A Clear Message” That The Focus Needs To Be On The Economy, Not “Raising Taxes On Small Business.” “‘I think voters sent a clear message that the administration and Congress need to focus on the economy,’ said Rep. Dan Boren (D., Okla.). ‘We need to focus on creating jobs right now, and you don’t do that by raising taxes on small business.’” (Peter Wallsten And Jonathan Weisman, “Democrats Confront Coalition Strains,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/5/09)

Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) Wants Dems To Focus On “Jobs And The Economy.” “‘People want jobs,’ said Representative Michael Michaud, Democrat of Maine and a ‘Blue Dog’ conservative still undecided on the health care bill. ‘We have got to start focusing on jobs and the economy.’” (Susan Milligan, “Voters Send A Message On The Economy,” The Boston Globe, 11/5/09)