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Home Front: Politix
The 'No' list: 32 Democrats so far
2009-11-08
With just hours remaining until an historic vote on a sweeping health-care reform measure Saturday evening, at least 32 Democrats have said they will vote against the bill as of 7:15 p.m., according to a POLITICO analysis.

Just eight more "no" votes would be enough to sink the bill if Republicans maintain, as expected, a solid front of opposition. Still, Democratic sources are signaling that they have secured the majority of the caucus and expect to pass the bill tonight.
Just eight more "no" votes would be enough to sink the bill if Republicans maintain, as expected, a solid front of opposition. Still, Democratic sources are signaling that they have secured the majority of the caucus and expect to pass the bill tonight.

While the reasons these Democrats have offered for opposing the $1.2 trillion bill vary, they nearly all share a common trait--they are among the most politically vulnerable incumbents in the House, and they tend to represent conservative-minded seats that John McCain won in 2008.

Of the 32 no votes, 26 are members who represent seats carried by McCain--including all 11 Democratic members who hail from districts where McCain won 60 percent or more of the vote. Three of the remaining six are freshmen Democrats sitting in seats that were Republican-held until 2008.

At least three committee chairmen--Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.)--have also said they said they do not support the bill. "While the House bill does take some positive steps toward increasing coverage and reforming insurance regulations, it simply falls short when it comes to lowering healthcare costs for North Florida families and businesses," said Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) in a statement Saturday explaining why he would vote "no."

"Given the huge federal deficits facing our nation, I believe there is too much new spending in this bill," said Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) in a statement explaining his opposition to the bill. "Throughout this debate I have heard two extremes. Some on the far left would like to see the federal government run a socialized health care system. Some on the far right would get the government completely out of health care, which would mean the elimination of Medicare and Medicaid. I think both extremes are wrong."

Boyd's North Florida-based seat gave 54 percent of the vote to McCain in 2008 while Edwards's Waco-based seat delivered 67 percent of the vote to the GOP presidential nominee.

The Saturday afternoon House passage of the rule allowing the debate to move forward suggested the number of no votes could grow--four of the 15 Democrats voting no on the rule aren't included on POLITICO's list of no votes.
Posted by:Fred

#1  We need to remember who voted yes AND who voted no in 2010.
Posted by: WolfDog   2009-11-08 12:01  

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