Why The Health Care Vote Is Happening Today
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 5:12 pmFrom Pat Nolan:
One political observer told me: “The reason the House is voting on Saturday (which is very unusual) is because Democratic congressional leaders fear that if the members go home and visit their constituents, the whole plan will die.”
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Rep. Gordon’s Health Care Bill Back And Forth
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 5:08 pmNational Review’s take:
So, just to clarify, the bill was unacceptable, until Waxman and Pelosi really needed him to vote yes; now that it’s coming to the floor, it looks like he’s a no again? What if Waxman and Pelosi really needed him to vote yes again?
Rep. Duncan: Health Care Bill Unconstitutional And Unaffordable
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 5:05 pmThe word from the distinguished gentleman from Knoxville:
“I am voting against this bill for many reasons, but primarily because it is both unconstitutional and unaffordable.
Our health care system is in need of major reform, but we need to go more in the direction of free enterprise, free market principles.
When our federal government is already $12 trillion in debt and running deficits of over $1 trillion each year for the foreseeable future, we certainly do not need another big government boondoggle.
If the federal government gets even more into health care, in a few years it will lead to shortages, rationing, all sorts of inefficiencies and waste, and worst of all, a declining quality of medical care.
The really sad thing is that we had almost no major problems in health care until the federal government got heavily involved in the mid 1960’s. Before then, medical care was cheap and accessible and doctors even commonly made house calls. We took what was a very minor problem for a few people and turned it into a major problem for almost everyone.”
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Lamar Just About Says Speaker Williams Should Be Reinstated As A Republican
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 3:25 pm“My suggestion was they all might remember the parable of the prodigal son, which had a happy ending because the son came home and he was embraced,” Alexander told reporters after a brief speech. “I think that’s about as far as I’ll go.”
Local Electeds Strongly Encouraged Cooper To Vote Yes On Health Reform
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 3:14 pmIlissa Gold notes that a significant number of both legislative and Metro Council leaders signed a letter asking Rep. Cooper to vote yes on health care reform, a vote he indicated this morning he would, in fact be making:
All of the Democrats from Nashville in the House (even Mike Turner, wow!) and quite a few Council members–notably, just about all of the African-American members. Cooper does not normally get this kind of explicit statement from the Nashville electeds, so this is quite unprecedented. They’re sending a message for sure.
Latest Whip Count On Health Care
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 2:54 pmCohen and Cooper are ayes. Tanner and Gordon are nays. Lincoln Davis a presumed no but hasn’t said for sure. Republicans are, of course, all against.
Marsha On The Floor On Health Care
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 2:25 pmDiscuss
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 2:21 pmThe National Republican congressional campaign committee wants to make sure you know that some of our state’s Dems voted with their party on a procedural vote on health care:
Unlike 15 other Democrats who sincerely oppose Obamacare, Tennessee Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner just voted to advance H.R. 3962 – allowing the legislation they allegedly oppose to come to the House floor.
One Against Diversity
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 2:17 pmBrian at Six Meat Buffet on the Ft. Hood murders:
All the diversity in the world will never assimilate the person who does not believe in the goal of the team. So for everyone who likes the cliches about “diversity is our greatest strength”, please take a long look at the body count this week and note that it’s also your greatest weakness.
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Speaker Williams Would Like To Be Reinstated As A Republican Before Session
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 11:00 amWilliams told The Associated Press at a fundraiser for his political action committee in Knoxville on Friday night that he has several colleagues working toward a decision as soon as possible.
In the Elizabethton restauranteur’s words: “I just want to know where I stand.”
Daily Kos Can Stand Down: Coop’s A Yes On Reform
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:23 amFrom the office of Nashville’s congressman:
“I am grateful to the thousands of Nashville-area residents who have shared their opinion on health care reform with me. Everyone feels strongly because health care is so important to our lives. Having read the pending bills and having taught health policy at Vanderbilt business school for twelve years, I have made the following decision:
I will vote yes on H.R. 3962. My vote is not an endorsement of all the provisions of the bill because I find much of the bill to be deeply flawed. There is little chance that H.R. 3962 will become law due to the long legislative process.
My reason for voting yes is to advance the cause of health care reform by forcing the Senate to act. Without passage of this House bill, the Senate could delay reform indefinitely. That would be the worst possible outcome because our current health-care system is not sustainable. Congress needs to pass good health legislation in the next few months for the good of the country.
Passing legislation is a little like writing a term paper in school. The first draft is usually not very good. The second draft is better — H.R. 3962 is the second draft. The bill that the Senate will vote on will be the third draft, which I expect to show major improvement. The final draft will be written next month when the House and the Senate vote on the same bill. I will continue to work hard to make sure that the final legislation helps all of our families get quality, affordable health care.”
SEE ALSO:
Local elected applied pressure
Jeff Woods
Rep. Bill Dunn Openly Supporting Haslam
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 5:01 pmDavid Oatney reports from the Tennessee Conservative Union’s Reagan Day:
Haslam sent people and bought tables, but a conservative event in his own hometown was not good enough for him to be there and actively stump for himself. Bill Dunn is one of the few reputable conservatives openly supporting Haslam and gave a good speech and actually made a decent argument for the Mayor. When Dunn’s speech was over, I wanted badly to put Dunn’s name into nomination in place of Haslam.
Tragedy Comes Home
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:53 pmWSMV:
Police said a female Fort Campbell soldier was killed by her husband in an apparent murder-suicide at an Oak Grove, Ky., home Friday afternoon.
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Hasan And Islam
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:51 pmKatherine Miller of the Ft. Hood shooter and how we describe him:
A hypothetical: If Hasan were Jewish or Christian, would the religion have been notable? Well, no, unless he were a radical Zionist or a fundamentalist Christian. Even these distinctions, however, still hinge on some related or external motive (Iran, abortion, whatever).
Hasan could be a Seung-Hui Cho — a seriously overlooked mental instability waiting to explode. His politics, while influenced by his faith, could have been the largest contributing factor. It is, clearly, possible to have an irrational, bitter hatred of U.S. policy in the Mid East in the last decade. It’s possible to imagine a scenario involving dogmatic political views, mental instability, perhaps a personal crisis, and an impending deployment to a war zone without religion touching the thought process.
Parks And Rec
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:44 pmArt imitates life — or the other way around, I’m not sure.
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BJBG
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:39 pmDiscussion of the gun in the Ft. Hood case.
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Rep. Tanner: ‘I Am Unable To Support This Legislation In Its Present Form’
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 3:47 pmThe congressman on the health reform plan currently before Congress:
“In recent months, I have discussed with countless Tennesseans their ideas for how we can achieve the overarching goals of health care reform: to keep what works in the present system and fix what is broken.
“All Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care, and those who already have health coverage they like should be able to keep it. Most of us also agree that the sky-rocketing costs of medical care pose financial problems for families, small businesses, states and the federal government. Addressing these costs, which will continue to rise, should be the primary goal of any bill passed by the House.
“After careful review of the current legislation pending in the House and the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis, I believe the bill will not help control the long-term costs of health care and puts in place an infrastructure that is not fiscally sustainable over time. I am unable to support this legislation in its present form.
“Most of us realize that serious reforms are needed to fix what is broken in our health care system. Specifically, we should work to reform health insurance; ensure no one can be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition; and slow the upward curve of health care costs. I will continue talking with Tennesseans and working with others to achieve these goals, improve our health care system and ensure our reforms help solve, rather than contribute to, our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges.”
Tennessee Conservative Union Prez On The Gubernatorial Candidates
Posted on November 6, 2009 at 3:43 pmFrom Rick Locker:
Its chairman, Lloyd Daugherty, said today that despite Ramsey’s straw-poll win, “It’s my sense that conservatives have not consolidated behind one candidate yet. I think it’s up for grabs. I think it had a lot do with Ramsey becoming a known quantity with regard to state issues.”
Daugherty said it indicates conservatives are still mixed over Haslam, partly because his father, Knoxville businessman Jim Haslam, is a major financier of moderate Republicans.
“I think with conservatives, he’s got to prove he’s his own man. Most people think he’s done a good job as mayor but I don’t think anybody can say he’s governed as a conservative but more as a businessman. I think his strength is not of philosophy but of style, and people just like the guy,” he said.
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