The Washington Monthly

March 21, 2010

KAPTUR WILL BACK REFORM BILL.... With a no margin for error, and a dwindling number of undeclared members, every announcement from an undecided House member becomes a key development. But this one is arguably bigger than most because of what it tells us about the pro-life bloc.

In a big step forward for House Dems, Rep Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, one around a half dozen Stupak holdouts, just confirmed to a local TV station that she's voting Yes on the Senate bill.
Kaptur made the announcement on WTGV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Toledo, at around 9:50 AM.

The interview is not yet online but I confirmed Kaptur's quotes with WTGV investigative reporter Zack Ottenstein.

"Yes I will," Kaptur said, when asked if she'd be supporting the Senate bill.

The interview has since been posted, and Kaptur explained that the legislation "addresses a serious problem before the country today, which is that people are finding their insurance plans unaffordable."

As for the abortion-related provisions, Kaptur, a pro-life Dem and Stupak ally, added, "We received assurances last night that we will work with the administration and [HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius] and the President to ensure existing law is maintained. And not to change it in any way but to make sure it applies to this bill."

Asked if health care reform will pass, Kaptur said, "I'm pretty confident at this point."

This is not to say Stupak no longer has a key voting bloc that puts success in jeopardy; he does. The point, though, is that his group is getting smaller, and more of the votes he thought he had in his pocket have declared their support for the final bill.

—Steve Benen 11:20 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (9)

Comments

Kaptur comes across well in Michael Moore's film on capitalism, so I'm pleased that she moved on board with reform.

Posted by: N.Wells on March 21, 2010 at 11:28 AM | PERMALINK

Keep calling these undecideds on health care reform. Let’s win this!!!!!

Brian Baird - Washington (Vancouver, Olympia) - (202) 225-3536

Paul Kanjorski - Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Mount Pocono) - 202-225-6511

John Tanner - Tennessee (Union City, Jackson, Millington) - 202-225-4714

Earl Pomeroy - North Dakota (Bismarck, Fargo) - (202) 225-2611

Lincoln Davis - Tennessee (Columbia, Jamestown, Rockwood) - 202.225.6831

Mike Michaud - Maine (Bangor, Lewiston, Presque Isle, Waterville) - 202-225-6306

Bill Foster - Illinois (Batavia, Dixon, Geneseo) - (202) 225-2976

Kathy Dahlkemper - Pennsylvania (Erie) - (202) 225-5406

Chris Carney - Pennsylvania (Clarks Summit, Shamokin, Williamsport) - (202) 225-3731

Steve Driehaus - Ohio (Cincinnati) - (202) 225-2216

Stephen Lynch - Massachusetts (Brockton, Boston) - 202-225-8273

Rick Boucher - Virginia (Abingdon, Pulaski, Big Stone Gap) - 202-225-3861

Loretta Sanchez - California (Garden Grove) - (202) 225-2965

Dan Lipinski - Illinois (LaGrange, Oak Lawn, Chicago’s southwest side) - (202) 225 - 5701

Joe Donnelly - Indiana (South Bend, LaPorte, Michigan City, Kokomo) - (202) 225-3915

Marion Berry - Arkansas (Jonesboro, Cabot, Mountain Home) - (202) 225-4076

Jerry Costello - Illinois (Carbondale, Belleville, E. St. Louis, Granite City, Chester) - (202) 225-5661

Nick Rahall - West Virginia (Beckley, Bluefield, Huntington, Logan) - (202) 225-3452

Solomon Ortiz - Texas (Corpus Christi, Brownsville) - (202) 225-7742

Alan Mollohan - West Virginia (Morgantown, Wheeling, Clarksburg, Parkersburg) - (202) 225-4172

Posted by: Moses2317 on March 21, 2010 at 11:31 AM | PERMALINK

The sheep are blindly following the Pied Piper BHO to be slaughtered.

Posted by: Al on March 21, 2010 at 11:35 AM | PERMALINK

I think ,at this point, it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that Stupak has the votes to sink reform..Seems pretty clear to me that he's simply looking for a way to save face.

Posted by: Tommy on March 21, 2010 at 11:38 AM | PERMALINK

Stupak just wants to be the big dog who works a deal with the president. Check comments on MSNBC via The Hill: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/88079-stupak-we-are-close-to-deal-with-the-white-house
I more and more believe Stupak is the Evan Bayh type of narcissistic politician who, despite all evidence to the contrary, will insist on a specific political narrative that suits his given ambitions, whether that narrative is true or not. Whatever happens today, I hope Saltonstall has gotten a good little push from all this and can really give Stupak a challenge.

Posted by: Matt Plavnick on March 21, 2010 at 11:40 AM | PERMALINK

Any congressWOMAN that votes NO should be sent a doormat for aligning with men who don't want to help women. Of all the single moms who are struggling with family finances, this vote is a no brainer.

Posted by: ML on March 21, 2010 at 12:35 PM | PERMALINK

WTF is up w/ sanchez? i live in chicago, but have been contributing to her since before she beat dornan. i still get calls every cycle and still donate.
if she wusses out on this, i'd better not get any more calls. (or whomever calls better be ready to get their ear blistered but good!)

Posted by: mellowjohn on March 21, 2010 at 12:46 PM | PERMALINK

I'm well aware that Al is a parody troll, but I was just musing that if Obama is the Pied Piper, leading sheep to the slaughter, then that makes Stupak Bo-Peep, searching for his lost rats.

Posted by: Charles on March 21, 2010 at 12:50 PM | PERMALINK

[...] the pro-life bloc.

Even the NYT and the WaPo -- who have a larger than you stake in remaining conciliatory to both parties in the conflict -- have taken to calling them "abortion foes". Much more accurate as well as pleasing in the rejection of the right-wing self-label.

Posted by: exlibra on March 21, 2010 at 3:37 PM | PERMALINK