Does anyone know how many more votes to get to 216?

[Nancy Waterman]

I haven't heard any running counts. Thanks.

[backscatter712]

1. It's hard to tell.

There are different counts by different news sources, the New York Times has the count at 203 last I looked, but that only counts public declarations of support.

Though I'm hearing nasty rumors of compromises with Stupak - I think Pelosi has barely enough (if you count the people that are still undeclared, would vote for the bill in a pinch, but want to be released because they're in tough districts,) but wants a few more just in case a Congressmember gets hit by a bus or changes his or her mind...

Who knows?

[Parker CA]

2. Thirteen according to the NY Times link...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/16/us/politics/20100316-health-care-dems.html

[grantcart]

3. Here you go

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/16/us/politics/20100316-health-care-dems.html


203 yes
204 no

need 216

of the 24 left

11 come from districts that Obama won

18 voted yes the first time

19 voted for the abortion ammendment

3 are not running for reelection

10 come from districts that are considered 'leaning' or 'solid' Democratic

[Nancy Waterman]

4. So is there some strategic reason

to declare at the last minute? I am assuming Pelosi knows she has them even though many haven't yet committed publicly. This makes little sense to me.

And thanks for the numbers!!

[Jennicut]

6. She might have to work something out with Stupak if she can't get to 216.

[Perky]

7. IN short, it is not about grandstanding or even the l it is about assurances for the fall campaign

"you have to give a high donor list" you have to send me surrogates. You have to clear the deck when I run for Governor/Senator

[grantcart]

10. I assume that its all scripted

but strategically speaking if your not going to lead on an issue you might as well wait to the end.

You probably can get a better deal on fund raising help etc.

[mucifer]

5. they have the votes. It's all theatre at this point.

[Nancy Waterman]

9. I hope it is all theater and promises for the fall

Didn't the doctor GOP senator, whatshisname, threaten to obstruct any Dem who lost in the fall
and then got nominated for a job? That sounded kind of illegal to me. But they are so shameless these days they don't even notice.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. I'm pretty sure that 216 are required.

[OHdem10]

11. At the very end of 6:00pm news, there was a clip of Cong. Clyburn

and he NO Longer said--we do not have the votes. In
fact he indicated--I am sure that we will have the votes
when we vote on Sunday and Health care will pass.

I believe they have the votes, not more than 1 or 2 short,
if any.

[Cha]

17. Thanks..nt

[LeftyAndProud60]

12. We were 5 votes away 10 yes votes ago. I don't think u can trust the numbers out there. NT

[NYC_SKP]

13. 216. We are 216 votes away. I don't trust a damn one of them and we aren't going to know...

...with much certainty until Sunday.

It's so close that unless we had a very clear signal from, say, 225 members to vote yes, caution tells me not to get my hopes up too high.

So, for me, we're 216 votes away.

:hug:

[Hippo_Tron]

14. They have the 216, they're just waiting to announce

They wouldn't schedule the vote unless they have the votes.

[quiller4]

18. You are right. I talked to a friend of mine this morning who works

for the caucus. She says that leadership knew this morning that they had 220 votes and would only release some of the names during the day. They were still whipping so that they would be able to give some more vulnerable members a pass.

[denimgirly]

15. on Charlie Rose last night Clyburn said they had the 216.

[denimgirly]

16. Im still baffled how a PO version of the bill passed and this watered-down version is more difficult

[CreekDog]

19. It passed with that Stupak abortion language which was a nightmare

:hi:

[DCBob]

20. Believe it or not Faux has the current count at 218 yeah and 213 nay.

I think its actually higher than that..