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Just a quick word from the ground in the MA-8th. I called the office a couple of hours ago, and it sounded as though they were pretty busy...I got put on hold five times in the course of our conversation. When I did manage to register my profound disappointment in anything other than a strong "yes" vote for HCR, they said thank you and hung up. My co-worked called five minutes ago, though, and when he got through they made a point to say that Rep. Capuano isn't actually voting no, just "leaning" towards a no vote. So they're definitely hedging, and this may be an opportunity for democracy to act...I'm calling all my friends to call the district office, and get the sense this will rightfully be a lead balloon in our district.
Putting it mildly. Keep calling. - promoted by Charley on the MTA)
Just picked this up over at Talking Points Memo - saying my main man Mike is wary of voting yes for the Senate bill because he's afraid it can't get fixed. Gives some sound reasons but still I think he has to keep the eye on the prize.
I guess he emailed supporters saying this:
House Members will now likely be asked to vote on the Senate bill without changes, making it available to the President for his signature.
Congress will then vote on amendments to that legislation through a process known as reconciliation. At this writing, it is not at all clear what legislative changes will be made to the final bill. Reconciliation is a complicated and dangerous process. In this instance, it requires the House to adopt the Senate bill and then trust that the Senate will pass, and the President will sign the reconciled bill that "fixes" any problems in the existing Senate bill. There is great risk in this course of action.
Maybe this is a negotiating tactic. Caps is tight with Pelosi and I can't see him letting her down come game time. But to be sure, it probably is time to get on the phones to his office.
They have come this far and have to get it done. If it requires the House taking a leap of faith that the Senate does what needs doing on reconciliation then its a leap worth taking.
