-By Warner Todd Huston
One of the jobs of the “Whip” position in Congress is to count votes so that the leadership has an understanding of what sort of support their legislative efforts have. These Whip counts are often made public knowledge (but not always) and The Hill has reported the latest counting of House Democrats and where they stand on the Pelosicare/Obamacare bill.
So, if one of your Congresscritters is on this list as a “yes” vote or is leaning “yes,” contact them immediately and voice your opposition.
As of noon on 11/06/09:
YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Yes
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Tom Perriello (Va.) Held many town halls this summer
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) Yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)
NO OR LEANING NO
John Adler (N.J.) A firm no, saying bill doesn’t do enough to control health costs.
John Boccieri (Ohio) Leaning no, citing cost-containment concerns
Dan Boren (Okla.) A firm no
Artur Davis (Ala.) Gubernatorial candidate says, “We risk a disaster if we get this wrong.”
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
Parker Griffith (Ala.) “I cannot support this bill.”
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Science panel chairman is a no, citing public option and bill’s “financial impact on the state of Tennessee.”
Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.)”As the bill stands right now, I am not going to be able to support it,” Kosmas told the Orlando Sentinel.
Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) No
Jim Marshall (Ga.) A firm no
Charlie Melancon (D-La.) No
Walt Minnick (Idaho) Has bucked leadership on big-ticket bills
Collin Peterson (Minn.) Ag chairman has sharply criticized bill
Ike Skelton (Mo.) Ag chairman cites public option, concerns about rural providers
Bart Stupak (Mich.) Wants changes to abortion-related provisions
Gene Taylor (Miss.) Made it clear to constituents this summer he is a “no.”
UNDECIDED/REVIEWING BILL
Brian Baird (Wash.) Changed from “leaning no.”
Melissa Bean (Ill.)
Marion Berry (Ark.) Wants more aggressive action against HMOs, drug makers
Rick Boucher (Va.) Wary of public option; voted no in Energy and Commerce Committee
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
Yvette Clarke (N.Y.)
Jim Costa (Calif.)
Chet Edwards (Texas) A perennial GOP target; rejected climate bill
Keith Ellison (Minn.)
Bob Etheridge (N.C.) May run for Senate
Bill Foster (Ill.) “Encouraged” House is moving forward; voted no on climate bill
Bart Gordon (Tenn.) Republicans targeting Science panel chairman
Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) Wants vote on “robust” public option
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.)
Baron Hill (Ind.)
Frank Kratovil (Md.) Voted yes on climate change bill; GOP targeting him
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) He said he “will have trouble voting for anything other than robust public option.”
Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) Opposes abortion rights
Betsy Markey (Colo.) Has concerns with cost of the bill
Eric Massa (N.Y.) Fan of single-payer approach
Jim Matheson (Utah) Prefers Senate Finance measure; voted no in committee
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.)
Jim Oberstar (Minn.)
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) Voted no on climate change bill
Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) undecided (I’m not commenting. But he reportedly told MSNBC Morning Joe yesterday “I’ve moved a lot closer to yes,” but I haven’t been able to check this)
Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) Voted no on climate measure
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) Has gone from “yes” to undecided
Heath Shuler (N.C.)
Zack Space (Ohio) Voted yes on Energy and Commerce Committee
Betty Sutton (Ohio)
Harry Teague (N.M.) Skeptic of public option
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Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, RedState.com, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.
He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
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