In a piece appearing online in Campaign Diaries on Sunday, it is apparent that there are at least 62 Democrats who have opposed at least one major component of the proposed health care reform legislation from Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and President Obama.
While a handful of Blue Dog Democrats wrote a letter that encouraged a public option similar to Medicare, 40 members of that Coalition signed a letter demanding free market changes to the bill.
It is most important to note the Democratic margins in House committees. According to Campaign Diaries, Congressman Henry Waxman’s Energy and Commerce Committee has a Democratic majority of 36 to 23. Unfortunately for Mr. Waxman, 7 of those are Blue Dog Democrats who signed the letter opposing the bill in its current form. That brings it to 29-30 votes, ultimately causing it to fail in committee.
These 7 Democrats are: Rep. Mike Ross (AR), Rep. John Barrow (GA), Rep. Bart Gordon (TN), Rep. Baron Hill (IN), Rep. Jim Matheson (CO), Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA), Rep. Zach Space (OH). All signed last week’s Blue Dog letter. (An eighth Blue Dog on the committee, Rep. Jane Herman, has said she favors a robust public option.)
Other portions that Democrats opposed include abortion and tax hikes. Without some serious reforms, it appears as though there are enough Democrats to stop the bill, whether in committee or on the floor, but there is no guarantee. One might wonder if they remember, or will have to have some angry constituents remind them, why they were in opposition to the bill in the first place.
Tags: abortion, Barack Obama, Blue Dog Democrats, Campaign Diaries, Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman, public-option, tax, Ted Kennedy
