Whip Count (No. 15 in a Series) – Donnelly Will Switch from Yes to No Unless Abortion Language Changes, Herseth Sandlin Stays No
EmailRep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., voted for the House Democrats' health care reform legislation last November, but he told the Rochester Sentinel that the abortion language in the Senate bill is not restrictive enough for him.
The Senate’s abortion language is a "fatal flaw," he told the newspaper. "I would not vote for it.” He added that the Senate legislation’s abortion language is opposed by "a significant" number of House Democrats and could kill the bill.
Meanwhile, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-SD, was a No last November and is staying that way, according to the Rapid City Journal.
“I will not vote for the Senate bill as is,” she said. “I will not vote for a package of changes that would go through the reconciliation process…I don’t support using reconciliation.”
As we’ve previously covered, 220 members of Congress voted for the bill when Pelosi brought the House legislation to a vote.
Since then, four yes votes are no more: Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-La., has said he won’t vote for final passage, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hi., retired to run for governor, Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., also retired, and Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., died.
That means to pass the Senate bill, Pelosi starts out with 216 members of Congress who votes yes last time.
With the retirement of Rep. Eric Massa D-N.Y., there are now only 431 members of Congress total, meaning a majority is 216 votes.
-jpt
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
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I think some of that unspent “stimulus” money will be getting some action in the next few days.
Posted by: SpoutingHorn | March 10, 2010, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
275 million Americans also say NO.
Posted by: Jim | March 10, 2010, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
“That means to pass the Senate bill, Pelosi starts out with 216 members of Congress who votes yes last time.”
No, that means that to pass the Senate bill, we have no idea how many votes there are, because to compare how someone voted on a different bill makes no sense.
Posted by: Flash Override | March 10, 2010, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
While you are doing your “count” I see you missed the fact that Senator Sanders said today that there are 50 votes in favor of the public option in the Senate, despite Obama saying that there weren’t.
How about looking into who is right on that?
Posted by: Flash Override | March 10, 2010, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
275 million Americans also say NO.
Posted by: Jim | Mar 10, 2010 3:45:17 PM
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Nonsense. There is no final bill to support or oppose yet. Quit putting words in people’s mouths.
Posted by: tierra | March 11, 2010, 1:44 am 1:44 am
To all of THE Obama haters… if the R. REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTHCARE THEY HAD EIGHT YEARS. WHY DIDN’T THEY?… WHERE WERE THE TEAPARTY WHEN BUSH AND THE R WAS GETTING THE USA INTO ALL THIS MESS.. WHERE WAS fIX NEWS?
MAYBE IF FIX NEWS AND THE TEAPARTY WAS CONCERN ABOUT THIS NATION WHY WERN’T THEY SPEAKING AGAINST BUSH SPENDING SPREE.. R SPEND SO MUCH TIME TRYING TO BRING DOWN OUR PRESIDENT WHEN THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR ASKING THEMSELVES WHY? THE ANSWER IS FOR POWER.. WAKE UP PEOPLE VOTE OUT ALL THE R.. IT TOOK BUSH EIGHT YEARS TO GET THE US IN THIS MESS BUT YOU EXPECT PRESIDENT OBAMA TO GET US OUT IN A YEAR HE’S A MAN NOT GOD, SOMETHINGS JUST TAKE TIME.. OBAMA IS A GOOD MAN JUST GIVE HIM THE CHANCE.. SO FOR I BELIEVE HES DONE A GREAT JOB.. PRAY FOR OUR PRESIDENT..
Posted by: BRENDA | March 11, 2010, 10:49 am 10:49 am
obama hasn’t listened to the majority who don’t want the status quo changed on government funding of abortion. i don’t want any abortions, but i am settling for no gov funding-hardly am radical position on my part. then there is the issue of obama promising there would be no gov funding and continuing to say this through .his legislative minions. the only thing to call this is a lie. after all he is constitutional lawyer. i can read the bill so why does he insult my intelligence. i don’t hate him, but now i don’t believe anything he says where before i gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: r scholl | March 11, 2010, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
To all the Obama haters?
c’mon, why do you have to start with that? Obama’s stances on just about everything are wrong, that doesn’t mean he’s hated. Grow up, stick to facts and stop the name-calling. And speaking of facts, the Republicans were not in charge for eight years. Remember the Dems taking majority in Congress during Bush’s second term?
I will agree that things should have been done years ago like being able to purchase health insurance across state lines, crack down on illegals and phony lawsuits.
Posted by: Sam | March 12, 2010, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
i think this is right..275 million Americans also say NO.
Posted by: Ilan Ben Menachem | March 18, 2010, 6:10 am 6:10 am