Illinois Republican Party

WATCH: Dead of Night
11/24/2009

From the Republican National Committee

Despite More Americans Opposing The Dems' Health Care Experiment Than Those Supporting It. "In the new poll, 48 percent say they support the proposed changes; 49 percent are opposed." (Dan Balz & Jon Cohen, "Deep Divisions Linger On Health Care," The Washington Post, 11/17/09)

Senate Dems Voted To Move Forward With Harry Reid's Government Takeover Of Health Care On Saturday Night. (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09)

In Order To Get All Dems On Board, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) And The Obama Administration Used Their "Persuading Power And Arm-Twisting Prowess." "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has recruited an all-star team of former senators -- Vice President Joe Biden, Tom Daschle and Ken Salazar -- to push healthcare reform over the finish line. ... Reid's all-star team indicates that the administration and Democratic leadership are now using all the persuading power and arm-twisting prowess available to them to carry President Barack Obama's signature agenda item to a successful conclusion." (Alexander Bolton, "Reid Rolling Out Big Guns To Push Healthcare Bill To 60," The Hill, 11/18/09)

AND IN THE PROCESS, SO-CALLED 'MODERATE' DEMS SOLD THEIR VOTES, THEIR PRINCIPLES

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Said She's "Not For A Government-Run, National, Taxpayer-Subsidized Plan, And Never Will Be." (Charles Babington, "Key Senators May Rebuff Obama On Health Care," The Associated Press, 10/22/09)

• But Landrieu Voted For Reid's Government-Run Health Care Bill, Saying She's Used Her Leverage "To Get Some Things That Are Important." "I'm using as much leverage as I have for the issues that I think are important... [Y]ou've got to use the leverage when you've got it to get some things that are important..." (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09; Carrie Budoff Brown, "Landrieu Leans Yes In Sat. Cliffhanger," Politico, 11/20/09)

• Reid Gave Landrieu $100 Million Earmark In Order To Secure Her Vote. "On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for 'certain states recovering from a major disaster.' ... I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill. ... Senator Harry Reid, who drafted the bill, cannot pass it without the support of Louisiana's Mary Landrieu. How much does it cost? According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million." (Jonathan Karl, "The $100 Million Health Care Vot e?" ABC News's "The Note" Blog, 11/19/09)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) Said He Would Oppose Reid's Bill Unless It Prohibits Federal Money From Funding Abortions. "Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend. 'While there may be differen t views about abortion, I think there's a strong majority against using federal dollars to fund abortions,' Nelson said Tuesday on NBC's 'Today.'" (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, "Bill Clinton Meets With Senate Dems On Health Care," The Associated Press, 11/10/09)

• But Nelson Voted For Reid's Health Care Experiment Even Though He Said Reid's Abortion Language Won't Clearly Prohibit Abortion Funding. "We have looked at the language... That language is not language that I would prefer. ... I think you need to have it eminently clear that no dollars that are federal tax dollars, directly or indirectly, are used to pay for abortions and it needs to be totally clear. [It's] not clear enough, I don't think..." (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09; Michael O'Brien, "Lieberman: More Dems Could Join Public Option Filibuster," The Hill's "Briefing Room" Blog, 11/19/09)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) Wanted Assurances That The Long-Term Care Entitlement In Reid's Bill Wouldn't Lead To Deficit Explosion. "[B]ayh said he was not confident that CBO's 10-year scoring window would take into account the long-term budgetary effects of the insurance program. He fears its obligations would eventually far exceed the program's revenues, forcing the government to pick up t he slack. 'I want to make sure that we're not setting up a situation that will explode the deficit in the out years, regardless of what the CBO has to say about it,' Bayh said." (Drew Armstrong, "Affordability, Budget Issues Come To Forefront Of Senate's Health Debate," CQ Today, 10/27/09)

• But Bayh Voted For Reid's Health Care Experiment Even Though CBO Said CLASS Act Would Cause The Deficit To Increase After 2029. "[T]he CLASS program included in the bill would generate net receipts for the government in the initial years when total premiums would exceed total benefit payments, but it would eventually lead to net outlays when benefits exceed premiums ... In the decade following 2029, the CLASS program would begin to increase budget deficits." (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09; Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Said Health Care Reform Should "Get A Handle" On Rising Cost Of Health Care. "Prices of health care are marching relentlessly upwards, and so too many people don't have coverage... The purpose of all of this is to try to get a handle on it somehow." (Erica Werner, "Initial Senate Vote Looms On Health Legislation," The Associated Press, 11/21/09)

• But Dorgan Voted For Reid's Health Care Experiment Even Though CBO Said It Would Increase Health Care Costs For Federal Government. (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09; Page 16, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Senator Harry Reid, 11/18/09)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Signaled Opposition To Government-Run Health Care. "Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who could face a tough re-election battle next year, is signaling her opposition, and she has been noncommittal on whether she would vote with Democrats to end debate on the final measure and move to passage." (David Drucker, "Moderates Make Feelings Known," Roll Call, 10/28/09)

• But Lincoln Voted For Reid's Health Care Experiment Weeks After Saying She "Ruled Out A Government-Funded And A Government-Operated Plan." (H.R. 3590, Cloture Vote On Motion To Proceed, Roll Call Vote #353; Approved 60-39; D 58-0; R 0-39, I 2-0, 11/21/09; Charles Babington, "Key Senators May Rebuff Obama On Health Care," The Associated Press, 10/22/09)

SOURCE: RNC

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