UPDATED: Whip count on health bill
Below is a list of selected Democrats and their positions on the House healthcare reform bill based on media accounts, press releases and spokesmen for the lawmakers.
UPDATED 11/7/09 4:08 p.m.
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
Jim Cooper (Tenn.)
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
John Garamendi (Calif.) Was sworn in this week
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Firm yes; Hodes running for Senate
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Bill Owens (N.Y.) Was sworn in this week
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.) Missed votes this week due to illness but will register yes on health bill
Rep. Joe Sestak (Pa.) Firm 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.
Jason Altmire (Pa.)
Brian Baird (Wash.) Believes leadership should allow more GOP amendments
John Barrow (Ga.)
John Boccieri (Ohio) Leaning no, citing cost-containment concerns
Dan Boren (Okla.) A firm no
Rick Boucher (Va.)
Allen Boyd (Fla.) “It simply falls short when it comes to lowering healthcare costs.”
Bobby Bright (Ala.)
Travis Childers (Miss.) “We need to get this legislation right, not just get it fast”
Jim Costa (Calif.)
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.”
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.) “It does not include sufficient cost-containment and deficit reduction measures.”
Tim Holden (Pa.)
Larry Kissell (N.C.) Firm no
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.) Firm no
Jim Marshall (Ga.) A firm no
Eric Massa (N.Y.) Announced his opposition on Friday night
Jim Matheson (Utah)
Mike McMahon (NY) New York Daily News reported Friday evening he is planning to vote no.
Charlie Melancon (D-La.) No; Melancon running for Senate
Walt Minnick (Idaho) Has bucked leadership on big-ticket bills
Glenn Nye (Va.)
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
John Tanner (Tenn.) “I am unable to support this legislation in its present form.”
Gene Taylor (Miss.) Made it clear to constituents this summer he is a “no.”
Harry Teague (N.M.) Skeptic of public option
{mosads}UNDECIDED/REVIEWING BILL
Melissa Bean (Ill.)
Marion Berry (Ark.) Wants more aggressive action against HMOs, drug makers
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
Yvette Clarke (N.Y.)
Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
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
Baron Hill (Ind.)
Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) He said he “will have trouble voting for anything other than robust public option.”
Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) Opposes abortion rights
Dan Maffei (N.Y.)
Betsy Markey (Colo.) Has concerns with cost of the bill
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.)
Patrick Murphy (N.Y.)
Jim Oberstar (Minn.)
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) Voted no on climate change bill
Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) Voted no on climate measure
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) Has gone from “yes” to undecided
Heath Shuler (N.C.)
Adam Smith (Wash.)
Zack Space (Ohio) Voted yes on Energy and Commerce Committee
Betty Sutton (Ohio)
Peter Visclosky (Ind.)
Mike Soraghan, Jared Allen, Molly K. Hooper, Bob Cusack, Mary Ann Dreas and Dan Randlett contributed to this list.
Feedback, tips can be sent to bcusack@digital-release.thehill.com
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