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Hillarysworld -> Health Care Issues -> "Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats" (Bob Cusack & Molly K. Hooper, The Hill, 3/17/10)
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TOPIC: "Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats" (Bob Cusack & Molly K. Hooper, The Hill, 3/17/10)
Sanders


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"Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats" (Bob Cusack & Molly K. Hooper, The Hill, 3/17/10)
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"

Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats


By Bob Cusack and Molly K. Hooper - 03/17/10 10:10 AM ET

Maverick liberal Rep. Dennis Kucinich announced Wednesday he will vote in favor of healthcare reform, handing Democrats a crucial vote.

The Ohio lawmaker and perennial left-wing presidential candidate made the announcement at a Wednesday morning press conference two days after President Barack Obama personally lobbied him to switch his vote during a flight to Ohio on Air Force One.

Kucinich voted “no” on the 2009 House healthcare bill and has lambasted the Senate’s healthcare bill as worse than the House version.

But he said he would vote "yes" at this final stage of the healthcare debate despite serious misgivings about the legislation. He cast his decision as not wanting to be the deciding vote against healthcare reform.

"In the past week, it's been clear that the next vote on healthare will be quite close," said Kucinich. He said he would cast his vote "not on the bill as I would like to see it, but as it is."

Kucinich also said Obama's visit to his district had underscored "the urgency of this moment."

Democrats are preparing for a possible weekend vote on the Senate bill along with a package of changes to that legislation that would then have to be approved by the Senate.

Kucinich is the first “no” vote from November to commit publicly to voting “yes” on the final measure. Given his stature on the left, his decision could provide some political cover for other skeptical progressives to vote with their leadership.

He would also give cover for a centrist Democrat in a tough election to vote against healthcare. Kucinich does not have a tough race.

The Hill’s running Whip Count had included Kucinich as a firm no vote given his statements about the Senate healthcare bill. His plan to vote “yes” means there are 36 lawmakers in The Hill’s tally who are firm “no” votes, or who are leaning no or are likely to vote no.

Democratic leaders also received a boost on Tuesday when freshman Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.) announced he would support the bill. Maffei previously had been undecided.

Continues @ The Hill

"

There, the show begins!

-- Edited by Sanders on Wednesday 17th of March 2010 11:08:35 AM

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"
Kucinich Switches To Yes On Health Care
Laura Colarusso | March 17, 2010, 10:20AM

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) announced this morning that he will in fact vote for the Senate health care bill. Kucinich's switch was a major pickup for Democrats who are clinging to a razor thin majority on health care reform and have been struggling to find the votes to get it passed.

"This is not the bill I wanted to support," Kucinich said. "However after careful discussions with President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, my wife Elizabeth and friends, I decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation."

Kucinich originally voted no on the House version of the bill last fall, citing concerns the legislation didn't go far enough to help struggling Americans. He repeatedly said he couldn't support the Senate bill before his announcement today.

"I know I have to make a decision not on the bill as I would like to see it but as it is," Kucinich said, noting the Senate bill at least gave health coverage to 31 million more Americans. "My criticism of the legislation has been well reported. I do not retract those criticisms. I incorporate them into this statement."

Democrats had been pushing Kucinich to vote "yes." On Monday, at an event in Ohio, President Obama responded to an audience member yelling out "Vote Yes!" by laughing and saying, "Did you hear that, Dennis?"

Before the event, Kucinich - one of the few Democrats who opposed the bill last fall from the left - rode with the president on Air Force One.

Kucinich, a former surgical technician, laid out his requirements for switching his vote in an editorial this weekend - saying that Democrats would need to include a robust public option and a state waiver to allow legislatures to create a single-payer health care system if they chose. It's unlikely both of those changes would be made to the bill, which has gotten more conservative over time.

The Ohio representative also took the opportunity to blast those who refer to President Obama's efforts to reform health care as socialism, saying the time has come to stand up to insurance companies.
"
Source link to TPM


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"
By Tory Newmyer
Roll Call Staff
March 17, 2010, 10:13 a.m.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who opposed House passage of health care reform last year, will support an overhaul the chamber is expected to vote on later this week.

[snip]

Kucinich had been a caucus of one in opposing reform because it was not liberal enough. Former Rep. Eric Massa (N.Y.), the embattled lawmaker who resigned his seat last week, was the only other Democrat — of 39 who lined up against the House bill in November — to oppose the package for similar reasons. (Emphasis added here)

More @ Roll Call
"


-- Edited by Sanders on Wednesday 17th of March 2010 11:40:05 AM

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Ebinger


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RE: "Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats" (Bob Cusack & Molly K. Hooper, The Hill, 3/17/10
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Doesn't this bill have the public option in it now? That's what he was holding out for, besides a ride in Air Force One.

His support really is no surprise. The MSM is making a bigger deal about this than it is, the clock is running out on Obamacare and the votes still aren't there.

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Sanders


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"Kucinich to vote ‘yes’ on health, giving a boost to Democrats" (Bob Cusack & Molly K. Hooper, The Hill, 3/17/10)
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Ebinger, No, the current bill is actually House version modified (for President's bill) and that does NOT have public option, plus the house will pass the senate version as is (it does not have public option), and amendments for reconciliation (amendments do not have public option).

What Dennis Kucinich explained in his interview with Fox Busienss which I posted a couple of days ago is he decided it is better to take what we can now and then work on further improving it with amendments.

May be Pres.Obama convinced him during that ride on AF1.

If Pres.Obama gave short version of his speech from yesterday, yes, that was probably quite effective with Rep.Kucinich.


-- Edited by Sanders on Sunday 21st of March 2010 04:20:23 PM

__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010
Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

Madam Secretary Blog at ForeignPolicy.com
Project Vote Smart - Stay informed and engaged!
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