Louisiana Rep. John Fleming says Democrats keep pushing back the health care vote because they can’t get a favorable score from the Congressional Budget Office. Fleming, who is also a doctor, explains why the health plan would devastate his business and many more. He also discusses the impact of Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich flip-flopping on his vote after being pressured by President Obama. And Fleming highlights his plan to force all members of Congress to be subjected to the new health care laws if the plan is approved.
Huge Ad Buy Targets Pro-Life Dems
Americans United for Life are taking out full-page ads in the hometown newspapers of pro-life Democrats. What is the message for the lawmakers and their constituents? What is the truth about the abortion language in the bill? Will her organization refuse to label any member who votes ‘yes’ as pro-life? And what happened to bipartisan efforts to make sure taxpayer-funded abortions are not part of the Senate bill?
Obamacare Could Cost 700,000 Jobs
President Obama and other Democrats have claimed that their version of health care reform is a critical part of the overall job creation effort. But what impact would this bill really have on our nation’s employment? Which sectors would see the greatest impact? And how do the authors of the study explain left-leaning projections showing major job growth? We discuss it all with Ryan Ellis, director of tax policy at Americans for Tax Reform.
The News
Republicans protest as Democrats try to pass Obamacare without actually voting on it – a clear sign the votes aren’t there for an up or down vote. Dems defend the rule saying it’s been used many times by Republican majorities. New Jersey tea partiers get the green light to continue effort to recall Sen. Bob Menendez and the Lockerbie bomber (who was supposed to be dead four months ago) may live another five years.
Final March to Obamacare Begins
A final vote (if there is a vote) may not happen for days or even weeks, but Democrats are about to set the stage for an extremely controversial showdown. The Budget Committee has approved reconciliation language for the package to fix the flawed Senate bill. What happened in that hearing and what does it tell us about the next stages in this debate? We ask Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a member of the Budget Committee. He discusses what would happen on abortion, the public option and whether avoiding a direct vote would protect and members of Congress from the potential wrath of voters.
The Deteriorating Alliance
Clifford May of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies discusses the strained relations between Israel and the Obama administration. Are new settlements the heart of the issue or just a symptom of a bigger problem? What is the truth on the new settlements? What might be a bigger issue? How does the Iranian nuclear threat factor into all of this? And is there any reason to think peace progress is possible?
American People Can Kill the Bill
As Democrats struggle to pass health care legislation and consider extraordinary measures to push the bill over the finish line, Republicans can do very little to impact the outcome. But the American people can. So says South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson. He says public opposition stopped passage of the bill for months and massive public opposition is the key to killing the bill once and for all.
‘Deem and Pass’ for Obamacare?
House Democrats are still struggling to cobble together the 216 votes needed to pass the Senate health bill. So Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a tactic that would approve the plan without ever voting on it. It’s called ‘deem and pass’. How can Congress pass a bill without a debate or a vote? Has this ever been done before? On a bill of this significance? How will something like this get worked out in the House Rules Committee? We ask California Rep. David Dreier, ranking Republican and former chairman of the House Rules Committee.
The News
President Obama gave his closing argument for the Democratic health plan by saying support for the bill is an act of courage. Dems still don’t have the votes, but are optimistic. Sen. Dodd unveils plan to give government more power to regulate Wall Street. Actor Peter Graves is dead at 83.
New Standards, Less Choice
President Obama says he wants to overhaul No Child Left Behind, the landmark education plan approved under President Bush. The changes include new standards, new classifications for schools and new remedies for those that are lagging behind. Are these good changes? And what has been the track record of the original Bush plan? We ask Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation.