Freshman House GOP'ers Urge Pelosi For Separate Vote On Debt Ceiling

Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

On Thursday Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to remove raising of the national debt ceiling language from the Defense spending bill. Lance said he'd like the Speaker to allow for a separate vote on the issue.

Currently, the national debt ceiling stands at $12.104 trillion. On Tuesday U.S. Treasury officials confirmed that the U.S. debt has hit it’s highest level since World War II at $12 trillion.

“The recent news that our nation’s debt has for the first time topped the $12 trillion mark should be of grave concern to every American...I stand here today with my colleagues to call on Speaker Pelosi to allow on the floor of the House of Representatives such a debate and a clean up-or-down vote on raising the debt ceiling,” said Lance.

Lance addressed a letter he sent on November 6 2009 to the Speaker asking for a stand-alone vote on raising the nation’s debt ceiling. 27 other House Republicans have joined with Lance in his efforts, including Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas).

“I will vote against a needed increase in the limit the federal government can borrow unless Congress creates a commission to come up with proposals to bring the deficit and debt under control,” said Lance.

The New Jersey Republican said that he is waiting to hear back from Pelosi.

Pelosi Gives High Praise To Senate Abortion Language

Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

During her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lauded abortion language in the Senate’s health care bill on Thursday.

The Senate bill, which was posted online Wednesday night, grants the secretary of Health and Human Services to decide if federal funds will be allocated for those who obtain insurance from the public plan. It would also require that private insurers split premiums from subsidies used to pay for abortion coverage.

“We have all agreed on all sides of this issue that we would maintain the status quo. There will be no federal funds for abortion,” said Pelosi. “I think the Stupak Amendment goes beyond maintaining the status quo. I’m pleased with the language in the Senate bill. I think it’s pretty clear that no federal funds will be spent on abortion,” she added.

The "Stupak Amendment" in the House bill would ban elective abortions for those covered by the public health insurance plan and would prohibit private insurers to offer abortion coverage to those who receive federal subsidies for health care premiums.

“I believe there is plenty of common ground to be found to do that [maintain status quo]... Conversations continue, and we will find common ground,” said Pelosi.

The Senate is expected to bring its bill to the floor for debate this Saturday.

Pelosi Touts Legislation To Insure Young Americans

By Julianne LaJeunesse- University of New Mexico

During a press conference Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) touted U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper's (D-PA) Young Adult Health Care Coverage Act as one way to insure young Americans.

Dahlkemper's health care reform provision extends young adult's access to their parent's health insurance until age 26. The House provision passed the Senate HELP committee, and if it passes as part of the larger Senate health care reform, it could present yet another way to insure "Young Invincibles," or that section of 18 to 34-year-old Americans who are uninsured whether by choice, hence their invincibility, or by financial situation.

Dahlkemper's proposal would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act, allowing a dependent child access to their parent's insurance if they are unmarried, without dependents and a citizen or national of the United States.

Pelosi was joined by members of the collaborative groups Young Invincibles and Campus Progress.