Research Briefing

Schumer Says House Dems Will Listen To Senate Dems, But Is Schumer Listening To Senate Dems?

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SCHUMER SAYS HOUSE DEMS ARE GOING TO TRUST THE SENATE DEMS

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Says House Dems Trust Dem Senators And Should Ignore GOP Senators. “Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) struck back at Republicans Wednesday afternoon, claiming that their attempts to scare more conservative House Democrats into voting against health care reform are ‘not having much effect at all.’ The House and Senate GOP has been pushing the message all week that the lower chamber cannot trust the upper chamber to pass a fix bill if the House chooses to approve the existing Senate legislation. Schumer, however, isn't buying it. ‘I think the House Democrats are going to look more at what the Senate Democrats say than what the Senate Republicans say, who have been against the bill from the get-go,’ Schumer said.” (Meredith Shiner, “Schumer Says GOP Scare Tactics Aren’t Working,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 3/10/10)

WHAT ARE SENATE DEMS ACTUALLY SAYING?

Passing The Senate Bill Will Not Stop Premiums From Increasing, According To Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Anyone who would stand before you and say well, if you pass health care reform, next year's health care premiums are going down, I don't think is telling the truth. I think it is likely they would go up, but what we're trying to do is slow the rate of increase.” (Sen. Durbin, Floor Remarks, 3/10/10)

The House Has To Pass The Senate Bill As Is Before Work Can Begin On A Separate Bill To Fix It, According To Sen. Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). “It’s very hard to see how you draft, and hard to see how you score, a reconciliation bill to another bill that has not yet been passed and become law … I just advise you go read the reconciliation instructions and see if you think it has been met if it doesn’t become law.” (David M. Herszenhorn & Robert Pear, “Parliamentary Hurdle Could Thwart Latest Health Care Overhaul Strategy,” The New York Times, 3/10/10)

An Abortion Fix Is Not Allowed In A Reconciliation Bill, According to Conrad. “Well, I think changes to abortion would probably not be permitted under reconciliation and the Byrd rule requirement.” (MSNBC, 3/2/10)

NO WONDER SCARED HOUSE DEMS ARE REJECTING THE SENATE DEM’S GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT

Reps. Dan Maffei, Michael Arcuri, And Bill Owens (D-NY) All Voted “Yea” In November But Are Now “A Key Block Of Swing Votes.” “As a result of their concerns about a final bill, Democratic Reps. Dan Maffei, Michael Arcuri and Bill Owens are emerging as a key block of swing votes that could make or break the historic legislation….Maffei, Arcuri and Owens say they have problems with the Senate bill. They claim it treats New York state unfairly by taxing expensive health care plans provided by employers, and by potentially shifting an extra $1 billion a year in Medicaid burden on the state.” (Mark Weiner, “Central NY Congressmen Emerge As Key Swing Votes On Final Health Care Bill,” Syracuse Post-Standard, 3/08/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

• “On Sunday, Congressman Michael Arcuri Of Utica Says He Intends To Vote No On The Senate's Version Of The Bill As It Stands Now.” (Gary Liberator, “Arcuri To Vote 'No' On Senate's Health Care Reform Bill,” WKTV.com, 3/8/10)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) Voted “Yea” In November But Now Says “Fix Health Bill Or Lose My Vote.” “[M]y vote cannot be taken for granted if my home state is getting a bad deal. The Senate bill as written places a disproportionate burden on New York, and would weaken the health care delivery system that all New Yorkers rely on. This would defeat the purpose of reform for far too many people in our state. I am not looking for special treatment, but for New York to be treated fairly. … The White House knows that my vote on health care reform currently hangs in the balance.” (Rep. Eliot Engel, Op-Ed, “Fix Health Bill Or Lose My Vote,” New York Daily News, 3/10/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) Voted “Yea” In November But Is Now Undecided. “U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., favors an overhaul of the nation's health care system, but is waiting to see how differences in House and Senate health care bills are fixed before deciding whether to support the final version. ‘My vote on a final bill is dependent upon several factors, many of which are in limbo and could be contained in the measure rectifying the House and Senate bills,’ Hill said in a press release.” (Kirk Johannesen, “Hill Backs Health Reform, Holds Approval For Final Details,” Columbus Republic, 3/9/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) Voted “Yea” In November But Is Leaning Toward “No.” “As I weigh it, I think -- for me -- ‘no’ vote is something that I continue to lean toward… especially the last additions -- that was kind of a slap in the face for all of us who fought for the public option.” (Mike Madden, “Key House Liberal May Vote Against Healthcare Bill,” Salon’s “War Room” Blog, 3/3/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) Voted “Yea” In November But Said The Senate Abortion Language Is A “Fatal Flaw” And A “Deal Breaker.” “Donnelly likes a lot about the bill, but its language on abortion is a ‘fatal flaw.’ For him, it is a deal breaker. ‘I would not vote for it,’ he said.” (W.S. Wilson, “Donnelly: Pass Health Bill In Pieces,” Rochester Sentinel, 3/9/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) Voted “Yea” In November But Will Oppose Legislation That Doesn’t Include The Stupak Language. “Asked if the congressman is ‘open to voting for a health care bill that lacks the Stupak amendment,’ Lipinski's spokesman Nathaniel Zimmer replied in an email to THE WEEKLY STANDARD: ‘No. Congressman Lipinski will not vote for a health care bill that provides federal funding for abortion.’” (John McCormack, “Illinois Democrat Lipinski Will Switch From Yes To No If Health Bill Lacks Stupak Amendment,” The Weekly Standard, 3/8/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) Voted “Yea” In November” But Is “A No Vote” Because Of The Senate Abortion Language And “Plenty Of Other Issues.”  “Right now, I’m a no vote… it’s not just abortion language, it’s plenty of other issues.” (Kristin Jensen, “Obama Looks To Rally Public In ‘Uphill Battle’ On Health Bill,” Bloomberg, 3/8/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) Voted “Yea” In November But Said He “Will Not Vote For A Health Care Bill That Doesn't Have The House Abortion Language In It…” (Alex Wayne, “Summit Opens An Uncertain Final Act,” CQ Today, 2/24/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) Voted “Yea” In November But Is “Not Inclined To Support The Senate Version.” “I am not inclined to support the senate version… I would like something more concrete than a promise. The Senate cannot promise its way out of a brown paper bag.” (Sheryl Gay Stolberg & Robert Pear, “Obama Calls For ‘Up Or Down Vote’ On Health Care Bill,” The New York Times, 3/3/10; H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care For America Act, On Passage, Passed: 220-215, R 1-176, D 219-39, 11/7/09)