What's Happening with Seniors Benefits

The Associated Press reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is optimistically claiming that lawmakers are "very close" to resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of Obamacare.  

But there are indications that Pelosi may be engaged in wishful thinking.

Rather than a conference committee between the two legislative bodies, the “game plan” now appears to be to take the Senate bill, amend it slightly in the full House, and then send it back to the Senate, which could concur in House amendments.

As reported in the December 31, 2009 issue of this newsletter, the real sticking point is on federal funding of abortion on demand.  

House liberals would like to have the “public option,” in which the federal government would provide health insurance directly to the public, but they know that, even without it, Obamacare greatly expands federal control over all aspects of health care.  Some of the other differences, which will not be obstacles to agreement, include different types of new taxes.

The House version of Obamacare passed by only five votes, 220-215 .  Earlier, the House voted 240-194 for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that prohibited public funds from being used to pay for elective abortions.  

There were 42 representatives--41 Democrats and 1 Republican (Anh Cao)--who voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment and for passage of the Obamacare Bill with the pro-life amendment included:

Joe Baca (CA)
Marion Berry (AR)
Sanford Bishop (GA)
Anh Cao (LA)
Dennis Cardoza (CA)
Christopher Carney (PA)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Jim Costa (CA)
Jerry Costello (IL)
Henry Cuellar (TX)
Kathy Dahlkemper (PA)
Joe Donnelly (IN)
Mike Doyle (PA)
Steve Driehaus (OH)
Brad Ellsworth (IN)
Bob Etheridge (NC)
Baron Hill (IN)
Paul Kanjorski (PA)
Marcy Kaptur (OH)
Dale Kildee (MI)
James Langevin (RI)
Daniel Lipinski (IL)
Stephen Lynch (MA)
Michael Michaud (ME)
Alan Mollohan (WV)
John Murtha (PA)
Richard Neal (MA)
James Oberstar (MN)
David Obey (WI)
Solomon Ortiz (TX)
Tom Perriello (VA)
Earl Pomeroy (ND)
Nick Rahall (WV)
Silvestre Reyes (TX)
Ciro Rodriguez (TX)
Tim Ryan (OH)
John Salazar (CO)
Vic Snyder (AR)
Zack Space (OH)
John Spratt (SC)
Bart Stupak (MI)
Charlie Wilson (OH)

The $64 Question is:  How many of these 42 House members will vote against Obamacare if the Stupak-Pitts pro-life amendment is made meaningless by the Senate abortion language or other subterfuge.

The Senate version was blasted by both the National Right to Life Committee and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , which called the legislation morally deficient and “should be opposed.”

If a significant number of the 42 Congressman insist on nothing less than the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, then the House will be forced to include this in the amendments that are returned to the Senate.  

Or there will be a stalemate and the bill will not pass.

Every one of the 41 Democrats will be under intense personal pressure from President Obama, Pelosi, and party officials back in their district to vote for the Obamacare with its pro-abortion provisions.  

How many of them will wilt under this arm-twisting and threats, along with offers of pork, is unknown.