House Pro-Choice Caucus Pushing To Remove Abortion Amendment

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

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) along with members of the Pro-Choice Caucus will push to remove the Stupak-Pitts amendment, which would block federal funds to support partial term abortions, from the Affordable Health Care For America Act 2009.

“We will try very hard to make sure it is not included in the final product,” Wasserman Shultz said in a conference call Monday. “I’m going to be pushing extremely hard to make sure that language is not included.”

The Florida Democrat also rebuked comments made by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), who on Friday stated that women should pay higher health premiums due to the possibility that they could become pregnant.

“I’ve never seen a more disrespectful display,” Wasserman-Shultz said. “At one point in the debate, [Sessions] actually compared women to smokers and suggested women, like smokers, should have to pay more for insurance, just by the accident for their ability to get pregnant."

Pro-Life Caucus Claims Major Victory Over Stupak Amendment

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

The Pro-life caucus touted the adoption of the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America legislation as a significant victory late Saturday evening.

“I can’t say enough for my colleagues on both the Democratic and Republican side… this is a great victory for people across this nation,” said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).

The amendment was adopted with a bi-partisan vote of 240-194.

The Stupak Amendment prohibits the use of federal funding for abortion under the public health insurance option and prohibits the use of federal affordability credits to purchase a health insurance policy that covers abortion.

House GOP Leadership Gears Up For Final Health Care Fight

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Lead John Boehner (R-Ohio) promised late Saturday morning that Congressional Republicans are preparing a strong stand against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, stating that they will attempt to convince Democrats to vote against the legislation.

"Members are having conversations with colleagues on the other side of the aisle... we're going to do everything we can to make sure this bill does not happen," he said.

The House is expected to vote on the bill Saturday evening.

Boehner and the rest of the House Republican leadership stood at a podium flanked by two flow charts showing what Boehner described as the 'Super Bureaucracy' that will be implemented if the bill passes.

House Minority Whip Erica Cantor (R-VA) commented that the only bipartisan votes on this bill will be from Democratic members who have decided to side with Republicans in opposition.

Cantor touted the Republican's alternative bill.

“One version ... will be a massive overhaul and remake the health care system that we know to a system we don't, and another version ... takes a reasoned and smart approach,” Cantor said.

White House Failing To Curb Job Loss, Claims Boehner

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats Friday of mishandling the U.S. economy following the Labor Department’s announcement that unemployment has hit 10.2%,

“Today’s report is yet another reminder that American families and small businesses are still struggling, and the White House response is falling short,” said Boehner.

Boehner pointed to failed promises and exorbitant spending, citing the Democrats’ health care reform bill and stimulus plan as steps that will plunge the U.S. further into debt.

“Since the stimulus plan was signed into law, more than three million private sector jobs have been lost,” said Boehner “Now, Speaker Pelosi is pressing ahead with a $1.3 trillion government takeover of health care, endorsed by President Obama, that will destroy 5.5 million jobs according to methodology developed by his own senior economist.”

Republican Makes Quick Appearance At Kerry-Boxer Markup

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

Republicans continued their boycott of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's markup of the Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act Wednesday, sans one Republican, Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK), who made a brief appearance.

Infofe, who gave a short opening statement, was quick to make his departure 15 minutes into the hearing.

Inhofe asked Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to cooperate with the minority party by having a full EPA economic analysis of the bill before continuing the markup.

Inhofe delivered a letter from Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), which according to Inhofe "outlines the agreement Sen. Voinnovich has with EPA."

Inhofe insisted that what the Republican members of the committee are doing is nothing out of the ordinary. The Senator from Oklahoma recalled the Clear Skies Act, which spanned two Congresses, when Democratic Senators sent two letters requesting new and balanced analysis before the committee moved to a markup.

Until a quorum can be met to proceeded with the markup process, Boxer will invite back EPA for further questioning and will fill time with a briefing explaining the entire bill later Wednesday afternoon.

“We will follow committee rules to the T, we will follow committee rules by the T,” said Boxer.

Wednesday marks the second day of the boycott.

Following Inhofe's remarks, in a sign of bipartisanship he gave his hand to Boxer.