DeLay: Dem Leadership Practicing ‘Arrogance’ In Writing Health Care Legislation
Appearing on State of the Union, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) accused Democrats of “arrogance” in their management of the health care bill. “I think what they’re doing wrong is because of arrogance,” said DeLay. He elaborated: “They have huge majorities . . . and you would think you could pass anything and pass it quickly with those kinds of majorities. Why is it? Why can’t they? It’s because they’re going back in rooms and then telling the members, take it or leave it. You can’t do that. It’s obvious.”
Dem Rep. Baird: ‘We Don’t Have A Dance Partner’ In GOP
Appearing on State of the Union, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), who is retiring this year, criticized Republicans for not participating in a bipartisan manner in the legislative process. “Tom DeLay was on Dancing with the Stars,” Baird quipped, who then explained: “We don’t have a dance partner. We don’t have someone on the other side who is seriously willing to say, ‘If you do these things, you will have our support.’ And the reason is they see it as such a potent political weapon.”
Bayh: ‘We Need To Try Something’ On Health Care
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) predicted that a health care bill will move forward with a supplemental bill passed by budget reconciliation. He also explained his rationale for supporting the bill: “If you think it will be better for the American people, vote for it. If you think it will be harmful, don’t vote for it. For me it was a close call in my mind. This is not the way I would have written it. For me it came down to, we need to try something. It may not be perfect. If it doesn’t work exactly the way we hope let’s correct it. To just sit here year after year letting things fester, that’s not the right way to go.”
Sebelius: We’ll Have The Votes When The Leadership Decides To Call For A Vote
Appearing on Meet The Press, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius would not commit to a specific time for when a vote would be held in Congress on health care. “We’ll have the votes when the leadership decides it’s time to call for the vote,” said Sebelius.
Sebelius: ‘The Conversations Will Continue’ With Stupak
Appearing on This Week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius responded to the objections to the Senate health care bill that have come from Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), the lead sponsor of a heavily restrictive anti-abortion language in the House bill. “I think the Senate bill, actually, has a different set of words than the amendment that Representative Stupak had in the House, but confirmed by legal scholars and various people that it does exactly the same thing,” said Sebelius. “There are no federal funds for abortions. But I think that if that does not satisfy the congressman, the conversations will continue. But certainly, his goal and the president’s goal are the same — do not change the status quo on abortion.”
McConnell On RNC Fundraising Document: ‘I Can’t Imagine Why Anybody Would Have Thought That Was Helpful’
Appearing on This Week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) responded to the internal RNC fundraising document that discussed how to appeal to “ego-driven” wealthy donors and “reactionary” small donors. “Well, its — that sort of thing is uncertainly not helpful. I can’t imagine why anybody would have thought that was helpful,” said McConnell. “I mean, typically, the way parties raise money is because people believe in the causes that they advocate. I think the way we raise money from donors across America is to stand for things that are important for the country.”
McConnell: Reconciliation ‘Irrelevant’ In Attacks Over Special Deals In Health Care Bill
Appearing on This Week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) indicated that Democrats will be attacked for special deals within the health care bill, even if a reconciliation bill is used to eliminate them. “I mean, as everyone understands, if the House passes the Senate bill, it goes straight to the president for signatures. So all of this discussion about the second bill, the reconciliation bill, is really, kind of, irrelevant,” said McConnell. “If the House passes the Senate bill, it goes to the president for a signature. That means that every single member of the House who voted for this will have voted for the kickback, the purchase, the gator-aid, all of that, and the Medicare cut.”
Romney: I’ll Make A Decision On 2012, After The 2010 Elections
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) said that he would decide after the 2010 elections whether he will run for president. “I don’t really have the pros and cons laid out yet,” said Romney. “It’s something which we won’t have to decide until some time after the November elections. My guess is after those elections are over and we see where the country is, and we see the features in our own lives that may affect a decision like that, we’ll sit down and make a decision.”
