Last updated 01/12/10
TPM is spending the Congressional recess tracking how health care is being viewed in home districts. Based on our reporting and reader tips, we will constantly update the list below of Democrats who voted against the House health care bill.
With few exceptions, these 38 are either conservative Democrats or vulnerable members or both. Freshmen are appended with an “F,” Blue Dogs with a “BD,” and Freshmen Blue Dogs with one of each.
Obviously some of the folks on this list will be opposed to any health care bill. But many should be in play, and, with the public option gone, some of those who ultimately decide to oppose the final bill will have to come up with clever new reasons for their “no” votes. If Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces more than one or two defections from the progressive wing of her party (former supporters who decide to vote “no” because of the abortion language or the loss of the public option, for instance) she’ll have to draw upon this list to make up for them.
Still A No
Bobby Bright (D-AL): F, BD
Update, 12/29: Bright told a local Kiwanis club his concerns about costs remain.
John Boccieri (D-OH): F
Update, 12/31: Boccieri leaves Democratic voters in his district with the distinct impression that he’s still a no.
Eric Massa (D-NY): F
Update, 12/31: Massa is a single-payer advocate, and has an “all or nothing” take on health care reform. “I do not support the bill that just passed the Senate,” he says in a statement.
Mike McIntyre (D-NC): BD
Update, 12/31: Given that McIntyre joined a right-wing prayercast dedicated to killing health care reform, he’s probably a no all the way.
Keeping Options Open
Harry Teague (D-NM): F
Update, 12/29: He wrote a constituent a letter obtained by TPMDC detailing his concerns but didn’t take a position on the Senate version.
Betsy Markey (D-CO): F, BD
Update, 12/31: Markey was never a public option foe–in fact she supported it. Still, despite its demise, she likes key aspects of the Senate bill, and is keeping an open mind.
Walt Minnick (D-ID): F, BD
Update, 01/04: Minnick has voted against every major Democratic initiative since President Obama took office–but he’s reserving the right to vote for the final health care bill.
Michael McMahon (D-NY): F
Update, 01/04: McMahon is guarded about his intentions, but is leaving the door open to supporting a final health care bill.
Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Update, 01/04: Though not a fan of the House bill, and not a fan of some of the horsetrading that went on to pass the Senate bill, Boucher says he could support the final health care bill if it’s good for his district.
Mike Ross (D-AR): BD
Update, 01/12: Ross is a fan of ping ponging the health care bill, but still has many concerns.
Allen Boyd (D-FL): BD
Update, 01/12: One of the House’s most conservative members, Boyd says he doesn’t think a bill he can vote for is out of reach.
Leaning Yes
Jason Altmire (D-PA): BD
Update, 12/29 Altmire says the Senate bill’s cost containment measures are much stronger than the House’s and that this will sway a number of Blue Dogs if it survives conference.
Position Not Determined Yet
Artur Davis (D-AL)
Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL): F
John Barrow (D-GA): BD
Jim Marshall (D-GA): BD
Ben Chandler (D-KY): BD
Charlie Melancon (D-LA): BD
Frank Kratovil Jr. (D-MD): F, BD
Colin Peterson (D-MN): BD
Ike Skelton (D-MO)
Travis Childers (D-MS), BD
Gene Taylor (D-MS): BD
Larry Kissell (D-NC): F
Heath Shuler (D-NC): BD
John Adler (D-NJ): F
Scott Murphy (D-NY): F
Dan Boren (D-OK): BD
Tim Holden (D-PA): BD
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD): BD
Lincoln Davis (D-TN): BD
Chet Edwards (D-TX)
Jim Matheson (D-UT): BD
Glenn Nye (D-VA): F, BD
Objections From The Left
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Retiring
John Tanner (D-TN): BD
(Announced retirement earlier this month.)
Brian Baird (D-WA)
(Announced retirement earlier this month.)
Bart Gordon (D-TN): BD
(Announced retirement earlier this month.)
The list excludes Rep. Parker Griffith, who opposed the health care bill as a Democrat, but who recently became a Republican.
