Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) called a press conference and then cancelled it this morning. Originally, from what we can tell, he was going to appear with Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), another pro-lifer, who’s just announced her support for the bill. So what’s up with Stupak? He’s reportedly in last minute negotiations with the White House over the executive order language first discussed as a serious possibility yesterday. So it seems possible that if that’s ironed out, Stupak himself could be a later break into the Yes column this evening.
Things are moving so quickly today that there’s a ‘fog of war’ element to everything that’s happening. So we’ll follow up on this front shortly.
As you know, today’s the day. The House should make the key vote some time this evening. And our whole politics and health care reporting team will be with your through the evening. For the very latest, keep checking our live-updating Countdown to Reform Wire.
MSNBC is reporting that Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) is moving into the Yes column. Presumably that signals a deal on the executive order negotiations. We have not yet been able to confirm the Stupak news independently.
Late Update: What we’re hearing suggests that the Stupak issue may not be as clear cut as MSNBC suggests. I would not take that to mean that the MSNBC report will turn out to be wrong. Quite possibly this is where it’s going. But not there yet, or at least they’re unwilling to say so publicly.
Later Update: CNN says Stupak’s still a ‘no’ and MSNBC seems to be reeling back their report.
After six years under President Bush and twelve years as the congressional minority, the Democrats took over Congress in 2006 and then expanded their majorities and elected a president in 2008. If they lose that majority only four years in it will be a painful reckoning for all the work, doggedness and creativity that went into building that rumbling machine that brought the Democrats back to power only a few years into what was formerly known as their permanent minority.
But as I’ve mulled these possibilities over the last few weeks I keep coming back to two realizations. The first we know but tend to forget, that majorities are built to defend and better the country, not the other way around. Read More
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) just told reporters a short time ago, a protestor watching the House proceedings from the gallery got rowdy, yelling “Kill the Bill.” He resisted four Capitol Hill police officers trying to remove him from the gallery and as this was happening he was cheered loudly by dozens of House Republicans.
“I’ve never seen members of the House cheering on a guy resisting being kicked out of the gallery,” said Frank. “It’s a dangerous situation and the Republicans are cheering him on.”
In general, Frank says things seem a bit calmer with the protestors than they were yesterday.
Rep. Nunes (R-CA) on slurs and epithets (“n—-r” and “f—-t”) from Tea Partiers in the Capitol yesterday. His take? Basically, you brought it on yourselves. “When you use totalitarian tactics, people begin to act crazy. And I think, y’know there’s people that have every right to say what they want. If they want to smear someone they can do it. It’s not appropriate. and I think I would stop short of characterizing the 20,000 people who were protesting that all of them were doing that.”
See the video.
With all the bustle and hubbub on the Hill today, not long ago three members of Congress went out onto the balcony to literally salute the assembling Tea Party protestors. Here’s they unfurl a Gadsden flag (“Don’t Tread on Me”) to honor the protestors. I’m not sure there’s anything wrong in the narrow sense with unfurling a flag to express camaraderie with protestors. But change the clothes and hair styles a bit and it looks a like the images you see from some of the late-60s, early 70s campus takeover protests …
After canceling press conferences yesterday and earlier today, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) has scheduled yet another one, for 4 p.m. ET. We’ll have a reporter there and bring you what happens when it does.
Late Update: The Hill is now reporting that deal on abortion language has been struck and that Stupak and his cohort will vote yes.
We’ve been hearing conflicting word through the day on a deal with the White House which would bring Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and what remains of his group of pro-life Dem hold-outs into the Yes column. Broadly speaking that executive order from the president will clarify whatever ambiguities the Stupak group believes remains in the Senate wording on the non-use of federal funds for abortion. But obviously, the devil’s in the details. And the details are still not clear. Late word we’re getting is that that deal has just been finalized. We expect to hear more shortly.
A press conference with Stupak and others will start momentarily. Our Brian Beutler is there.