The Washington Monthly

March 12, 2010

GIVING UP ON STUPAK?.... As is now well known, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) is threatening to kill health care reform, pulling 12 "yes" votes into the "no" column, unless strict language can be approved preventing indirect, circuitous funding of abortion. That Stupak appears to be wrong on the merits isn't stopping him from becoming a major obstacle to success.

Democratic leaders have been working with the Michigan lawmaker in the hopes of finding a solution, and as of earlier this week, Stupak himself conceded that he's "more optimistic" about a resolution to the impasse.

But as of late yesterday, the AP reported that House leaders are prepared to give up on Stupak and find the votes elsewhere.

House Democratic leaders are giving up on seeking compromise with anti-abortion foes in their ranks and will try to pass health care legislation without those votes.
The anti-abortion Democrats' objections to the bill has become the principal hangup in efforts to resolve differences within the party and achieve the biggest change in health care in generations.

Congressional leaders are hoping they can find enough support from other wavering Democrats to pass legislation that only cleared the House by five votes in an earlier version.

The NYT reported that Democratic leaders appear "willing to bypass" Stupak. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who questioned whether he actually has 12 votes in his pocket, added, "There is no way in this legislation to satisfy Bart's demands."

To be sure, the leadership hasn't shown all of its cards here, and it's possible these leaks to the media are intended to help give Pelosi & Co. some added leverage. It's also possible that the leadership has been leaning on some of Stupak's allies, and now believes he doesn't have as many votes as he thinks he does. Maybe the Speaker has flipped a few Blue Dogs that we're not aware of, and no longer cares if Stupak walks away.

Also note, it doesn't appear that top Democrats have formally given up on resolving matters with Stupak. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), arguably Congress' best negotiator, said as recently as yesterday that he intends to "keep talking" to Stupak "until we see where we end up." It suggests the take-it-or-leave-it moment has not yet arrived.

But patience with Stupak's intransigence appears to be wearing thin. There's been talk of reasonable solutions -- including applying the Hyde language to the new health exchanges via an appropriations bill over the summer -- but it's apparently up to Stupak now as to whether he wants a deal or wants to help Republicans kill the bill.

—Steve Benen 8:00 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (17)

Comments

Isn't it time to start re-examining 501c3 status?

Posted by: anon on March 12, 2010 at 8:14 AM | PERMALINK

A word about the new regime in Virginia, who just voted for a bill saying that they will not have a mandate in Va to buy insurance.
My take on this is that it is fine to opt out of the mandate, but any state that does so owns the health care expenses of it's citizens that do so - in other words they will not be added to the bills of those that have health insurance. I think that would be fair!

Posted by: js on March 12, 2010 at 8:22 AM | PERMALINK

If a state refuses to humiliate itself with messiah driven socialised commie care , the sick , dead , and dying will be borne into heaven on the miasma of Saint Stupak talking through his hat .
How do you wake up to the fact that the law of the land supported by majorities of the public is played , as we see , like a game to be won . Not part of an oath of office to uphold as a law of the land , but merely an object to be kicked , caught , or dropped .

Posted by: FRP on March 12, 2010 at 8:32 AM | PERMALINK

Rubber hose baby. Everyone has skeletons. They're not just for Halloween.

Posted by: SW on March 12, 2010 at 8:33 AM | PERMALINK

I don't think Stupak has 12 votes. He has lost them one by one as the Catholic Church has realized that the language of the legislation gets them where they want to go and they really want health care reform. Watch for Stupak to declare victory over some minor tweek.

Posted by: Ron Byers on March 12, 2010 at 8:42 AM | PERMALINK

This Stupak nincompoop knows very well that current language meets his ridiculous demands regarding abortion (not to mention that abortion is a legal procedure, you dolt)--he is doing the bidding of his controllers to tank HCR. He is the very epitome of what represents a DINO.

Posted by: terraformer on March 12, 2010 at 8:46 AM | PERMALINK

As John Cole has pointed out, you can fund a primary challenge to Stupak right now: http://www.balloon-juice.com/2010/03/11/primarying-bart/

Posted by: Rathskeller on March 12, 2010 at 9:25 AM | PERMALINK

Why isn't there an organized effort to get Dems in Stupak's district to call his office and demand that he vote yes? Or is there?

Posted by: Jack Lindahl on March 12, 2010 at 9:39 AM | PERMALINK

On the plus side, that's two days in a row the Democratic have deliberately talked tough to a legislative opponent, right out in public. Could Reid and Pelosi have finally figured out that televsion exists and they are putting together a TV series as well as a legislative package? And only 30 years after Michael Deaver patented the process and explained it to Leslie Stahl!

Posted by: Midland on March 12, 2010 at 9:45 AM | PERMALINK

just an fyi. I donated to Stupak's dem. challenger yesterday. :))

Bart Stupak is not representing his district in this. IF there were a district that would benefit from this bill, it is his. He is totally abandoning his constituents on this.

Posted by: bigwisc on March 12, 2010 at 10:06 AM | PERMALINK

Rachel Maddow quoted a source in the House leadership's staff saying that by their count, Stupak appears to have only four followers. If that's what Pelosi believes, then it's not surprising that Stupak is being bypassed.

Posted by: Joe Buck on March 12, 2010 at 10:39 AM | PERMALINK

@ Rathskeller - thanks so much for the link, I gave.

Posted by: dr2chase on March 12, 2010 at 10:46 AM | PERMALINK

I still want to know who subsidized his rent and whether he reported it as income for tax and congressional disclosure purposes.

He does not get a pass for moving out of "C" street or even for voting for reform.

I say we turn he desire for 15 minutes of fame into 15 years in prison for tax evasion.

If it was good enough for James Trafficant, it's good enought for Bart Stupak.

Posted by: Winkandanod on March 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM | PERMALINK

Stupak and the Stupak "12" are reminiscent of the R senators who line up uniformly against Obama's nominees until the nominee sneaks through and then they all vote Yay.

Stupak is just bad theater and it's unlikely that he and his Band of Mysterious Brothers will be voting against HCR when the time to vote arrives. It's past time for Pelosi and Hoyer to call his sanctimonious bluff.

Posted by: burro on March 12, 2010 at 11:47 AM | PERMALINK

Ron Byers

I think that's it. One of his key allies bailed on him a couple of days ago and as you stated the Catholic Church really wants this. It's going to be hard for them to say they are pro life if they don't support a bill that could potentially save lives.

Right now imo Pelosi doesn't need 216 votes because she already has them. It's now about appearances. Passing this thing with 240 or more votes looks a lot better to the public than 217.

Posted by: woody45 on March 12, 2010 at 1:27 PM | PERMALINK

burro:

If by some chance she does not have the votes then Stupak better go and find them for her. Pelosi will let him blow smoke as long as he likes but if Stupak crosses her on this one than he better prepare his kneecaps for hourly meet and greets.

Posted by: woody45 on March 12, 2010 at 1:32 PM | PERMALINK

You guys are nuts...

Posted by: cantonst on March 14, 2010 at 7:54 AM | PERMALINK