Hillarysworld

The world has changed a lot since the House passed its health care bill last fall.

Back then, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed the bill with just two votes to spare. If she took the same vote today, she’d have the bare minimum of votes she would need, after the death of Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, three House resignations and the defection of the only Republican to vote yes.

Pelosi’s job is holding the line — or converting some earlier opponents from no to yes if she gets any defections. The good news for Pelosi is that there are at least a half-dozen “no” votes that are open to voting yes, maybe more. But who? And what would it take to flip them?

“I just don’t know where they get the votes in the House,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Altmire, a Democrat who opposed the House bill but now says he’d consider supporting the final package. “It’s a huge challenge because ... the people who voted yes would love a second bite at the apple to vote no this time because they went home and had an unpleasant experience as a result of their ‘yes’ vote. I don’t know if there is anybody who voted no that regrets it.”

After a year of competing proposals and controversy, the fate of the president’s health care proposal rests with a small pocket of Democrats who are caught between the demands of party leaders in Washington and the discontent of angry voters back home. Some voted for earlier bills. Others didn’t.

The playing field has changed, as well. In the House, Tennessee Rep. John Tanner, originally a no, has announced his plans to retire. Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth, originally a yes, has announced his intent to pursue a Senate bid. And Democrats across the country face Republican challengers who weren’t on the radar back in November.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33726.html#ixzz0gzBhISOi

I think the House members got more than an earful from their constituents (note the Republican that has switched to a no vote).

I tend to doubt Pelosi can get the votes without more backroom deals like the Senate did.