The Hankster Live-Blogging Health Care Debate and Congressional Vote

10:45pm EDT - Congress did it -- they passed a bill for health care reform. 219 Dem votes, (34 Dems against) Repubs 178 against and somehow the "independent" is missing...  Quite a hub-bub in our nation's capital....

10:30pm EDT - Pelosi just finished speaking... continued motions and opinions and requests... [who knew there were so many rules to governing the nation?!...] this is a "15 minute vote" (?) not sure what that means.... Commentary by C-Span is trying to explain about passage and failure.... during the next hour or so. Votes needed: 236 for HR 3590 (I think).... Again you can follow live coverage here, and think more about it here, and then around 11pm (EDT) be sure to see Dr. Omar Ali, TMV's Joe Gandelman and Nicole Kurokawa with Don Lemon on CNN...

10:11pm EDT – Just spoke with Joe Gandelman after the CNN taping of independents on the issue of health care reform (Don Lemon) — tune in to CNN at 11pm EDT. Get the independent view point!
10:07pm EDT – Rep John Boehner (R-OH) grandstanding about the House of Representatives being a broken house; gavel “both sides of the house would do well to remember the dignity of the House”
8:12pm EDT — Congressman Dennis Kucinich  statement on healthcare and the American people and the meaning of supporting President Obama.


8:31pm EDT - quietness on the floor of the US House.  Now resume the partisan, more or less socialist-moderate-anti-socialist statements...

8:26pm EDT - HR 3590 HR 4872 - the right to have insurance, end abusive practices by insurance companies, the nightmare ends tonight...

8:24pm EDT - Jim McDermott (D-MO) speaking in favor... Dean Heller (R-NV) against. I'm going to pay attention to what the partisans are saying....

8:12pm EDT -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich statement on healthcare and the American people and the meaning of supporting President Obama.

8:03pm - Joe Gandelman will be a guest on CNN tonight as part of an independent panel hosted by Don Lemon. Just spoke with Dr. Omar Ali - next up on CNN Don Lemon at 7:30pm -- consideration of the expected approval of health care reform, which he called a "historic reform", how can President Obama now turn his attention to reform of the political system itself. Dr. Ali thinks that the American people are becoming more aware of the process itself and the impact of that process on our national policy. Tune in to CNN at 7:30pm EDT


7:50 EDT - John Lewis speak vigorously in support

7:47pm EDT -- Congressman Rangel (D-NY) speaking about his privilege to serve. Oh, that's right, let's have a look at Dennis Kucinich's

7:31pm EDT -- Looking for Don Lemon's CNN independent panel - here's the live CNN channel

6:46 EDT - getting serious now, Rep Steny Hoyer (D-MD) speaking about this bill... and how health care was cheaper and less partisan in the past... A bi-partisan objective- affordable health care for all...

6:29 EDT - seems the resolution has another 5 minutes to vote. don't really understand the rules of the house, but they seem to be making their way through this....

6:28 EDT - one minute left to discuss....

6:03pm - Just spoke with Dr. Omar Ali - next up on CNN Don Lemon at 7:30pm -- consideration of the expected approval of health care reform, which he called a "historic reform", how can President Obama now turn his attention to reform of the political system itself. Dr. Ali thinks that the American people are becoming more aware of the process itself and the impact of that process on our national policy. Tune in to CNN at 7:30pm EDT Don't miss panelist Joe Gandelman of The Moderate Voice


5:38: Louise Slaughter votes yes; voice vote no. Roll call vote on the rule proceeding, proposal to suspend the rules. etc... Again, please tune in to C-SPAN and read Jackie Salit/ Fred Newman's Talk Talk on the issue of healthcare and our partisan gridlock....

5:35pm -- Closing remarks by Rep David Dreier (R-CA) starting out with pro-individualist/ anti-democratic solution... "common-sense proposals"... urge to vote no


NOTE: "Our" congressmen/women seem to think that their party registration and possible history of carrying coffee for their superiors equates with democracy. Stay tuned...

ROLLCALL BREAK:  If you haven't yet read Jackie Salit and Fred Newman's Talk Talk "Healthcare: The Final Act" do so while the Dems and Repubs put out their pretty much partisan votes... and watch live C-SPAN coverage here...

5:01pm -- Repubs roll call, saying "ask unanimous support to revise my remarks in regard to this flawed health care bill...

4:57pm -- ongoing bipartisan hack-spout... support/oppose... uhhh would there be any other choice give the 2-party frozen storm?

4:47pm - Phil Gingrey (R-GA) sites vote in 1993

4:46pm -- Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) sites personal family health issues

4:40pm -- So is the deal between Obama and Stupak over abortion the deal-maker?

4:39pm -- Virginia Foxx (R-NC) talking about increased cost and complete take-over of health care system

4:32pm -- Alcee Hastings (D-FL) Count me in as a radical. We must do what we think is morally right.

4:09pm - Rep. Slaughter (D-NY) is now referencing the people who spit at Rep. Barney Frank. She is putting to rest the contention that conservatives have the upper hand... Does Louise Slaughter have a southern accent, or am I crazy? Louise is in favor! Yea!

4:06pm -- Point of order was approved so we will now hear from Congressman Stupak. I have to say I had no idea that Jesse Jackson, Jr. was the speaker of the House. Has been over-mediaed by the Speaker of the Senate...? Louise Slaughter, D-NY of the Rules Committee speaking, again interrupted by Speaker -- lots of "rowdiness" -- being asked to take their conversations outside to the cloakroom. Are we in primary school in the 1800's????

4:05pm -- Stupak about to speak.


3:50 - Politico says Stupak and WH have resolved abortion issue....

3:46pm - That's Jesse Jackson, Jr. at the gavel, now have cut to pro and con protests outside the US Capitol...

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Against my better judgement (and perhaps the advice of Fred Newman in the recent Talk Talk "Healthcare: The Final Act" with Jackie Salit and Fred Newman) The Hankster will be following the vote today on President Obama's health care reform bill in Congress.

3:14pm - there's a really contentious fight on the floor of the House right now about procedures and the guy who's wielding the gavel is hitting the sound block is Very Busy! You can see live coverage from C-SPAN here. I'm gonna find out who he is, but he has his arms folded tightly across his body for good reason!