It's not just the Blue Dogs who are having trouble swallowing the House's health care bill.
Dina Titus said voting against the health care bill was a "difficult" decision. (Getty Images/Ethan Miller)
Freshman Democratic
Reps. Dina Titus of Nevada and
Jared Polis of Colorado, neither of whom are members of the conservative caucus that has been outspoken in its discomfort with the bill, voted against the measure during
a marathon, 24-hour markup in the Education and Labor Committee.
There's a long way to go before the bill becomes law or dies, so no it is not worth reading too much into a single event But in a week with plenty of setbacks, including the CBO director's declaration that the measure is more likely to increase rather than decrease long-term government liabilities, the Democratic "no" votes of Polis, Titus and four of the five Blue Dogs who have had a chance to pass judgment in Ways and Means and Education and Labor cannot be welcome news for Democratic leaders or the White House.
Polis led 22 House Democratic freshmen, the overwhelming majority of whom are not Blue Dogs, in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday expressing concern with provisions that would pay for the health care expansion by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
Titus, who signed the letter, cited those concerns in explaining her vote against the bill at the committee level.
"This was a difficult vote. There are positive aspects of this legislation like ending the practice of denial based on preexisting condition and making insurance portable. I know that families across Nevada are struggling due to the high cost of health care, but I have concerns regarding the tax portion of this legislation," Titus said.
"We are working hard to lift our economy out of this recession and to promote growth and job creation. Increasing taxes that can affect small businesses in my district will make it harder for them to be the engines of growth that pull us out of this recession and put people back to work," she added
Blue Dog Reps. John Tanner of Tennessee, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and Ron Kind of Wisconsin voted against the health care bill at a Ways and Means markup, and fellow Blue Dog Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania did so in the Education and Labor Committee.
Rep. Mike Thompson of California, a close ally of the Speaker and a member of Ways and Means, is the only Blue Dog to support the measure in committee so far. The real committee-level showdown between Blue Dogs and liberals will be in the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has more Blue Dogs than the other panels.
*UPDATE:
CQ's Alex Wayne notes Blue Dogs joined with Republicans on Energy and Commerce during a markup today to adopt an amendment requiring the Health and Human Services Secretary to study whether any duplicative programs are created by the overhaul, and after reporting to Congress, unilaterally eliminate them. The amendment, adopted 29-27, demonstrates the influence Blue Dogs have on the committee.*
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Comments
CHOOSING THE USUAL PROFITING INSURANCE COMPANY, OR CHOOSING GOVERNMENT PLAN SHOULD BE UP TO AMERICANS?
The deciding factor in implementing health care for everybody--LEGALLY--in America, is the Publics voice? Those who want to just follow the same old road, can do so with the profit taking commercial insurance. Those who would be satisfied with a government run health care program, can now start demanding it from the lawmakers. Those who see a Universal health care system, similar to most developed countries in Europe, should start informing every Representative and Senate politician starting today. Rationing in places like England, was caused by the major impact of uncontrolled immigration. I see--THE RATS--are coming out of the woodwork, using propaganda and downright lies about government run medical care?
Posted by: Brittanicus
| July 17, 2009 4:32 PM
I would love to have all illegal immigrants deported to just so they would disappear as an excuse. Then, once they are all gone and we still have the same problems, we'll see what excuses the far right comes up with then. More scapegoating? More fingerpointing? You bet. That's because to the far right, it always everybody elses fault. Typical knee-jerk rightwing Republican garbage.
Posted by: mag_amberson
| July 17, 2009 11:10 PM
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