THE VOTE COUNT – AT 8:08 A.M. ET:  No one knows exactly what the vote count is for health "reform."  We reported last night that some news sources were saying that the Dems were five votes or so short in the House.  Some Dems are putting a good face on it, or a frown if you prefer, and saying they already have the votes to pass the measure, but they aren't being taken seriously. 

Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, leader of the Democratic pro-life forces, believes the kamikazes aren't really close to victory.  From The Hill:

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said Monday he thinks House Democratic leaders are not close to having the votes to pass health reform.

In an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, the anti-abortion rights lawmaker said, "I'd be surprised if they have 200 votes."

House Democratic leaders need 216 to pass the bill.

Stupak noted that he is not counting votes with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her lieutenants, calling his figure "a guesstimate."

Democratic leaders have a very different vote count, claiming they have, or are very close, to having the votes to pass a bill.

The Washington Examiner, in an editorial, notes that the deal making continues, even though Democratic leaders have said there'll be no more changes to their main bill.  There are those nasty little special provisions inserted to get the votes of senators and congressmen:

Last week, Obama said he wanted them removed. But over the weekend, White House senior aide David Axelrod waffled when asked about the deals, saying Obama now only objects to deals that only apply to one state: "The principle that we want to apply is that, are these [deals] applicable to all states? Even if they do not qualify now, would they qualify under certain sets of circumstances?" According to AP, "that is the argument made earlier by aides to Democratic Sens. Max Baucus of Montana and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. The measure to give Medicare coverage to asbestos-sickened residents of Libby, Mont., for example, could apply to other places where public health emergencies are declared -- even though Libby is the only place where that has happened so far."

Change we can believe in.  What a disgrace.

March 16, 2010