James Clyburn: ObamaCARE vote could push past Easter holiday

democrat-logoGood news or purely a smokescreen? House Majority Whip James Clyburn told McClatchy that he has doubts that the House would vote by Thursday. He said lawmakers might have to stay in Washington right up to Easter Sunday, wrangling over their differences, and he wasn’t certain the showdown vote would take place by then.

“The chances are good, but I wouldn’t bet on it,” he said.

Clyburn cited three changes that he said might help him change November “no” votes into “yes” votes among House Democrats:

_ The latest version drops a “public option” for a new government-run health care plan on the scale of Medicare or Medicaid. The modified measure still requires Americans to buy health insurance, but it provides tax credits and other subsidies to help moderate- and low-income people purchase coverage from private companies.

_ The new bill drops a “millionaires’ tax” that would have imposed a 5.4 percent surcharge on wealthy Americans.

_ The November House legislation carried a $1 trillion price tag, while the measure that passed the Senate a month later would cost $875 billion. The modified House bill will carry a price tag in the range of $955 billion.

Clyburn was frustrated by news reports focusing on the Democratic votes he might lose from the November tally — starting with anti-abortion Democrats upset that abortion-funding limits have been loosened since then.

Clyburn said those vote-switchers — perhaps between five and 10 — would be more than offset by new supporters lured by other changes.

One crucial addition, he said, is the addition of up to $7 billion in college student aid.

Clyburn took the unusual step of naming four former Democratic opponents who he’s hopeful are preparing to vote for the reform legislation: Reps. Brian Baird of Washington state, Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, Bart Gordon of Tennessee and John Boccieri of Ohio.

“That’s four people right there who voted no before,” Clyburn said. “Why don’t we talk about them? Everyone’s talking about who we might lose.”

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March 16, 2010 · Filed Under Democrats, ObamaCARE


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