Last Updated: 7:49 PM ET March 21
As the Democrats’ push for health care reform enters the home stretch this weekend, we’ve got our eyes on a small number of key undecided Democrats. The fate of health care reform largely rests in their hands. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs 216 votes to pass the Senate’s health care bill in the House — and she doesn’t have them yet.
Here’s our rundown on the key votes that are still in play. We’ll be updating the list as these Democrats declare their intentions.
As of 7:49 PM ET March 21:
Undecided Dems Who Voted ‘No’ On The House Health Care Bill
Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Undecided Dems Who Voted ‘Yes’ On The House Health Care Bill
There are still some undecided pro-life Democrats who previously voted “yes” but remain leery of the Senate bill’s abortion provisions. They include:
Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
On Sunday March 21, several undecided pro-life Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), announced they’d vote “yes.” They include:
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Chris Carney (D-PA), and Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Several other key House Democrats have already flipped. Reps. Scott Murphy (D-NY), Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), Allen Boyd (D-FL), John Boccieri (D-OH), Bart Gordon (D-TN), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Betsy Markey (D-CO) and Brian Baird (D-WA) have all switched from “no” to “yes.”
And Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-NY) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA) are switching from “yes” to “no.”
Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), who voted “no” on the House bill but was undecided on the Senate bill, has also confirmed he’s still a “no.” So did Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM), citing cost concerns. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) said according to the Salt Lake Tribune he will stay a “no” because the bill is “too expensive.” Reps. John Tanner (D-TN) and Glenn Nye (D-VA), who both voted “no” on the House bill, have both said they will still vote “no.”
And Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), a Stupaker who voted “yes” on the House bill but was undecided on the Senate bill, has confirmed he’s still a “yes.” Same goes for Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who moved from undecided to “yes.”
In a last minute surprise, Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), who voted for the House health care bill last fall, has announced that he will vote no on the Senate bill tomorrow. We’re told that this wasn’t a surprise to Speaker Pelosi but that she didn’t release him to vote no either, as sometimes happens late in the game when the leadership knows it has enough votes and can spare some to protect vulnerable incumbents.
Follow all the latest developments at our Countdown to Reform Wire.
Update Feed
7:49 PM ET March 21: Rep. Joe Donnelly, one of the pro-life Democrats, decides to vote yes.
6 PM ET March 21: Rep. Marion Berry says he’s a no.
4:22 PM ET March 21: A group of pro-life Democrats announced they’d vote “yes.” They include:
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Chris Carney (D-PA), and Bart Stupak (D-MI)
1:50 PM ET March 21: Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA) will stay a “no.”
1:44 PM ET March 21: Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) stays a “no.”
1:33 PM ET March 21: Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) switches from “no” to “yes.”
10:54 AM ET March 21: Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), one of our “hard to get Stupakers” has decided to vote yes. Other updates from around TPM we’re adding to the wire this morning: Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) is threatening to switch from yes to no. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) will stay a yes.
6:35 PM ET March 20: Rep. Jim Matheson is a “no,” and staying there.
6:29 PM ET March 20: Rep. Zack Space (D-OH) says he’ll vote no, according to local press reports.
4:09 PM ET March 20: Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) issues a statement saying he’ll vote “yes.”
8:27 AM ET March 20: Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM) said in a statement his cost concerns can’t be assuaged so he’ll stay a “no.”
6:19 PM ET March 19: Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY) switches from “no” to “yes.”
5:28 PM ET March 19: Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), a Stupaker who voted “yes” on the House bill but was undecided on the Senate bill, confirms he’s still a “yes.”
5:25 PM ET March 19: Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL) switches from “no” to “yes.”
4:40 PM ET March 19: Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), who voted “no” on the House bill but was undecided on the Senate bill, confirms he’s still a “no.”
4:08 PM ET March 19: Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL) switches from “no” to “yes.”
11 AM ET March 19: Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) switches from “no” to “yes.”
Additional reporting by Evan McMorris-Santoro, Brian Beutler, Rachel Slajda and Christina Bellantoni.
