Jane Hamsher has the numbers and the list of progressive Democrats who have pledged to vote against a health care bill that does not have a public option:
The headline in The Hill says it loud and clear:
Obama picks public option fight with liberals
. . . There are 435 seats on the House. Of those, 257 are filled by Democrats and 178 by Republicans. Which means a majority is 218. The Republicans have vowed to vote against health care, period. The Democrats can pass health care on their own, but if they lose 40 of their own, they only have 217 votes.
There are 57 Democrats who signed the July 30 letter saying that they "simply cannot vote" for a bill that "at minimum" does not have a public plan (PDF). There are 7 more not listed on the letter who have pledged to vote against any bill that does not have a robust public plan. That makes 64 Democrats who won't vote for the "co-ops" that both Kathleen Sibelius and Robert Gibbs say the White House is "open" to.
Do the math: 257 - 64 = 193. They need 218 to pass the bill.
The headline in The Hill says it loud and clear:
Obama picks public option fight with liberals
. . . There are 435 seats on the House. Of those, 257 are filled by Democrats and 178 by Republicans. Which means a majority is 218. The Republicans have vowed to vote against health care, period. The Democrats can pass health care on their own, but if they lose 40 of their own, they only have 217 votes.
There are 57 Democrats who signed the July 30 letter saying that they "simply cannot vote" for a bill that "at minimum" does not have a public plan (PDF). There are 7 more not listed on the letter who have pledged to vote against any bill that does not have a robust public plan. That makes 64 Democrats who won't vote for the "co-ops" that both Kathleen Sibelius and Robert Gibbs say the White House is "open" to.
Do the math: 257 - 64 = 193. They need 218 to pass the bill.
UPDATE: Weiner: Senate healthcare deal could cost 100 House votes
UPDATE #2: Jane at firedoglake has more on Rep. Weiner's appearance on CNBC, including this gem -- JIM QUINTIANILLA: So you think he will lose the liberal wing of his own party, and you don't think he can make it up by attracting Blue Dogs, Republicans, anyone on the other side of the aisle.
REP. WEINER: Yes, Blue Dogs are "on the other side of the aisle." And everyone but Rahm seems to know it.
