FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As President Obama gets ready to address the nation tonight about health care reform... he should keep in mind it's not just Republicans who need convincing.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer now says if there's no consensus, the House could leave for its month-long August break without voting on health care - something which Mr. Obama wanted both houses to do before the Congressional recess. Hoyer says he doesn't think it's necessary for the chamber to stay in session into August to keep working on the legislation. God forbid anything interfere with their vacation.
Democratic Congressman Charlie Rangel, a top committee chairman, was overheard saying: "No one wants to tell the speaker that she's moving too fast (on healthcare reform) and they damn sure don't want to tell the president."
This all sounds a lot different from last week when Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman said "We quite frankly can't go home for a recess" unless both houses pass health care bills.
But the Democrats are not all on the same page. Conservative Democrats are worried about the costs of the plan - which the Congressional Budget Office says would add $239 billion to the deficit over 10 years. Also, first-term lawmakers are worried about tax increases and long-time Democrats are against the government selling insurance in competition with private companies.
Here’s my question to you: What will delaying the vote on health care reform until after the congressional recess do to its chances?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jeff from New Britain, Connecticut writes:
In the fall, Congress will consider the next election as their top priority. Laws and sanity will be the last thing on their minds, as they fill their pockets with campaign cash and bow down to lobbyists... This health care reform is dead on arrival, Obama.
Keith from Oregon writes:
I don't know what effect a delay will have on the chances it will pass, but I bet it will increase the chances that members of Congress can read it before they vote on it. What a concept that would be.
Janne from North Carolina writes:
I think it will help it pass. Most Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, know there must be some type of health care reform. What we would like to see is reform that is thoughtfully considered and intelligently debated, and most of all, it must be effective and paid for. These "the sky is falling" deadlines must stop. Passing health care reform that doesn't work just to help the president score some political points is not serving the people that elected these officials.
Mary writes:
Jack, The August break will break the health care reform bill. If there is to be one, we need our representatives to act like they really care about the people of this country instead of their own interests. No one is getting a vacation this year, why should they? Corporate interests rule in this land and have for over 30 years. These folks are bought and paid for.
Eugene writes:
Jack, Delaying and extending the discussion on health care reform is a good thing. No question that health care needs reform, but the issue is immense; it's ridiculous for President Obama and Congress to rush.
Stephanie from Charlottesville, Virginia writes:
If those mealy-mouthed, chicken-hearted, pig-swilling congressmen don't have the guts to move forward on this, the chances of ever getting a bill decrease dramatically. What poor excuses for representatives of us, the common people, they are. I'm truly disgusted.