Radio America Online News Bureau

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.

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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.

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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.

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As President Obama and Democratic leaders try to twist enough Democratic arms to pass the health care bill, Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute explains what will determine the votes of the final, undecided House Democrats and whether more special deals will be added to put the Dems over the top.  She also gives a vote count update and explains why House Democrats don’t trust their Senate counterparts to make the changes they want.

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Georgia Rep. Tom Price – also a practicing physician – sounds off on the latest developments in the health care debate.  How does he analyze Nancy Pelosi’s decision to give up trying to win back as many as 12 pro-life Democrats?  What about yet another awkward rule strategy to get the bill passed?

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Georgia Rep. Tom Price says Republicans are not just critical of Democrats for piling on the pork barrel spending but are willing to show their commitment to open and thrifty government by not adding a single earmark to this year’s appropriations process.  Why now?  Is this principled, political or both?  Will this be just about the transparency issue or will the GOP also look to drastically reduce spending?  Can Republicans convince voters they are the party of fiscal discipline just four years after losing the majority in part because of excessive spending?

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Abortion remains one of the major sticking points as Nancy Pelosi tries to round up 216 votes.  But now Nancy Pelosi is giving up on trying to reach common ground and hoping pro-life Dems won’t be necessary.  What should we make of that decision?  What does the bill really say?  and how motivated are grassroots activists against this bill?  We ask Penny Nance, CEO at Concerned Women for America.

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Pat Creighton of the Institute for Energy Research explains why the Obama push towards using wind for energy is a proven failure and how environmentalists had far too much influence in shaping energy policy.  Creighton also reacts to Obama’s decision to forbid expanded offshore energy exploration throughout his four-year term.

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Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy says President Obama is wrong when suggesting that more government regulation of health care will empower patients and doctors.  The proof?  Just look at government-run programs like Medicaid right now!  Cassidy also explains why the expanded coverage in the Democratic plan is a raw deal for patients and doctors.  And Cassidy says a reliable Democratic source tells him only 150 Democrats are on board for the Senate bill at this point.

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House Democrats consider a new strategy that would pass the Senate health bill without actually voting on it.  Is that possible?  Would a vote on the strategy be the same as a vote on the bill?  Is President Obama right when he says the GOP did nothing on health care for the past decade?  And what’s the most important thing you can do to influence this debate?  We ask  Texas Rep. Michael Burgess, who is also a practicing physician.

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