Today in Washington - Jan 21, 2010 - Pelosi: Senate Healthcare Reform Bill Dead in House

The Hill is reporting: House Democrats lack enough votes to pass the Senate's healthcare bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Thursday. Pelosi threw cold water on the idea that the House could muster enough support to pass the Senate's bill, which includes a number of provisions liberals in the House find distasteful. "I don't see the votes for it at this time," Pelosi told reporters during her weekly press conference. "The members have been very clear."

Democrats have been forced to confront how they could proceed with healthcare reform legislation after having lost Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts to Republicans, giving the GOP enough votes to filibuster a bill in the Senate. One option under discussion has been passing the Senate bill, which would send the bill directly to President Barack Obama for a signature.

"We have to get a bill passed. We know that," Pelosi said, adding that "unease would be a gentle word" to describe House members' attitude toward the Senate legislation at the moment. Still, the Speaker reiterated that all options are on the table, and House leaders had to always be prepared for the possibility that the Senate wouldn't be able to muster the 60 votes necessary to pass healthcare legislation.

The Hill also addressed the following: Poll: Majority want healthcare bill halted and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-MN): Mass. election doesn't change her mind on healthcare; not voting for Senate version of bill.

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The Senate resumed consideration of H.J. Res. 45, the resolution to raise the debt limit. Up to 12 amendments may be considered to the bill. All amendments and final passage of the bill will require 60 votes. According to the AP, Senate Democrats are proposing a $1.9 trillion increase in the debt limit. “Less than a decade ago, $1.9 trillion would have been enough to finance the operations and programs of the federal government for an entire year. Now, it's only enough to make sure Democrats can avoid another vote before Election Day.”

Later today, a vote is expected on Sen. John Thune’s (R-SD) amendment that would end the TARP program. The AP reports, “Thune would prohibit further expenditure of TARP funds and would require that all funds paid back be used to retire debt.” Yesterday, the Senate voted 97-0 to confirm Beverly Baldwin Martin to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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