Levin leapfrogs Stark to become Ways & Means chairman, Rep. Brady says Obama ‘almost obsessed’ with passing big government health plan despite public rejection, abortion fight could still doom Obamacare in House, Bunning explains his fight for fiscal discipline, another scandal strikes NY Dems.
Archives for March 4, 2010
Obama ‘Just Doesn’t Get This’
Texas Rep. Kevin Brady says Democrats don’t have the votes to pass the Senate health plan right now, or they would have passed it already. Brady says President Obama doesn’t understand the reasons the GOP and the public are rejecting his plan and will try to twist as many Democratic arms as possible to finish this debate. Brady also offer his thoughts on Rep. Charlie Rangel’s decision to step down as chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee and on the shuffle to replace Rangel. Brady also explains who has really been running the committee and why that concerns him greatly.
‘Simple Math’ Dooms Obamacare
John Gizzi says despite a final push from President Obama, the Democratic health plan will die in the House of Representatives. He says the abortion language and other flaws will doom the bill. Gizzi also discusses the chaos at the top of the House Ways & Means Committee, and the scandals surrounding two New York Democrats besides Charlie Rangel.
Another Scandal for NY Dems?
While New York Gov. David Paterson watches his grip on power crumble and Rep. Charlie Rangel is forced to step down as Ways & Means Committee chairman over multiple ethics issues, freshman Rep. Eric Massa is also calling it quits. Massa says he has suffered a recurrence of cancer, but a male staffer has alleged that the congressman made unwanted advances toward him. So what do we know for sure? What happens now? And which party – if either – has the ethical high ground in Congress? We talk about it with Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent for The Washington Examiner.
The Devastation is Immense
Michael Black of World Vision joins us from the Chilean capital of Santiago. How does he describe the damage from Saturday’s massive earthquake? How many people are displaced and in need of the very basics? What is World Vision doing to meet the needs of those impacted by this disaster? And how can you help the relief effort?
Stark Raving Mad
On Thursday, House Democrats chose Michigan Rep. Sander Levin as the new chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. In doing so, they passed over the man next in line – California Rep. Pete Stark. So what cost Stark the chair? A career of boorish, belligerent behavior. Learn all about it here.