[h/t David]

With Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann leading the charge, freshmen Republican tea party whiners got their opportunity to register that all-important vote to repeal Obamacare yet again.

Because 2014 was so much like 2010, right?

The real news here is the narrowing margin. The last time the House voted, it was by a much wider margin than this. Only two blue dog Democrats joined the Republicans -- Jim Matheson (UT) and Mike McIntyre (NC) making the final count 229-195.

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At last, the DADT repeal certifications have been received from all branches of the military and President Obama has notified Congress that requirements for repeal have been met. As of September 20th, DADT will be no more.

From his email to those waiting for this day:

Today, in accordance with this law, I signed the certification that will end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” once and for all. The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also have certified that the military is ready for the repeal. Sixty days from now, on September 20th, the repeal will be complete and gay men and women will be able to serve their country openly.

Senate Republicans have attached an amendment to the FAA funding bill currently pending to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It appears that Harry Reid is willing to allow the vote to go forward, in order to "get it out of their systems quickly".

"We want to get this out of their system quickly," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a press conference with his top deputies Tuesday afternoon, who said the vote could come up "sometime today," depending on how long the floor debate drags on. Aides suggest the vote's more likely to come Wednesday.

"A budget point of order lies against it. It breaks the budget by a trillion dollars, they don't show any way of making up that trillion dollars." said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters. "I for one was hoping that Senator McConnell would not do this on this bill... but he did, its his right."

To waive the point of order, Republicans will need 60 votes. They won't come close.

Meanwhile, they are at least (finally) admitting that the goal of their tweaks isn't "repeal and replace", but rather to kill the whole thing and allow the status quo to remain for everyone.

I caught a few minutes of Senator Tom Coburn bloviating on the Senate floor this afternoon with the same old mantra about free-market health care, and how government will interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, etc. etc. ad infinitum. I could only wonder how he can stand there with a straight face and do that. The man is an OB/GYN who wants the government to execute doctors who perform legal procedures on women, robbing them of choices rightfully made with the advice of a doctor and without the US government in the examining room.

Finally, in what could be the ultimate irony of the day, Forbes wonders aloud why the uninsured aren't protesting in the streets like Egyptians.

Put plainly, the political and legal peril in which health reform finds itself is directly attributable to the failure of the uninsured to visibly advocate on their own behalf. Those without health insurance have allowed a civil rights issue of guaranteed access to medical care to become a referendum on Big Government rather than a test of basic human compassion for brain-damaged husbands. And, even more ironically, have left the heavy lifting on lobbying against repeal to the big insurance companies of the world such as Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint

Worse, while the prestigious Institute of Medicine characterizes the consequences of a lack of access to care as “needless illness, suffering, and even death,” it is Republican physicians in Congress brazenly lead the effort to repeal care coverage.

By coincidence, there are about the same number of elderly on Medicare as there are uninsured. Egyptians understand the power of an aroused populace. Do the uninsured? In Red States and Blue States in 2012, there will be Congressional districts and senatorial races up for grabs and a contest for the presidency featuring a man who made a historic effort on their behalf. Will Republicans whose party has never put forth a serious proposal to provide access to care for all suffer any consequences at the ballot box from turning to the sick, the scared and the suffering with a curt, “Government is not the answer.”

It's a good question, though. We should be in the streets. Every damn day.

Today is a happy day for many GOP freshmen Congressmen. Why? Because as of today, their government-subsidized health care is in effect. And that health care plan is robust. For starters, no one can be excluded or penalized for pre-existing conditions, regardless of age. Dependents are covered up to age 26, whether they're students or not, and even if they have a pre-existing condition.

But wait, there's more:

Beginning today, a new Republican Member of Congress with high blood pressure, diabetes, or any chronic condition is immediately covered at the same premium cost as 8 million other federal employees. The same is true for his or her spouse and dependent children, regardless of age, gender or prior illness.

So, no pre-existing conditions, no rate hikes, and best of all, the government pays about $700/month for each enrollee. Isn't that nice of them? Let it sink in: Taxpayers are paying $700 per month for Congressmen like Darrell Issa, and Virginia Foxx to have access to quality health care while they go about the business of repealing it through the courts and Congress for the rest of us.

In the this-is-no-surprise category, we have current polls which say a majority of Americans think those who seek to repeal the Affordable Care Act should decline their own government-subsidized health insurance.

Most Americans think incoming Congressmen who campaigned against the health care bill should put their money where their mouth is and decline government provided health care now that they're in office. Only 33% think they should accept the health care they get for being a member of Congress while 53% think they should decline it and 15% have no opinion.

For years, Republicans have deployed the word "uncertainty" to stymie any public policy with which they disagreed. A decade after President Bush declared "scientific uncertainties remain" about global warming, virtually the entire Congressional Republican caucus has proudly joined the deniers' camp. Last month, GOP leaders revved up the uncertainty myth over taxes, falsely claiming that another tax cut windfall for the wealth was needed to "reduce the uncertainty that's affecting employers all across our country." Of course, on two of the most heated issues of the day - raising the U.S. debt ceiling and repealing the 2010 health care reform law - it is the GOP which is wholly responsible for creating real uncertainty for businesses, investors and all Americans.

Next week, House Republicans will bring their quixotic effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act to the floor. (The vote originally scheduled for this Wednesday was delayed. That was altogether fitting, as Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords received death threats and saw her office vandalized after her March 2010 vote for health care reform.) But whether they target the entire ACA or just individual provisions, Republicans are bringing only uncertainty - and not health care - to the American people.

As Politico detailed yesterday ("Investors See Health Law's Potential"), insurers themselves are agreed on that point:

As Republicans push forward on repealing health reform, planning the law's demise, a different conversation is happening among thousands of health care investors gathered in San Francisco for this week's J.P Morgan Health Care Conference: how to capitalize on health reform's new business opportunities.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates 32 million Americans will gain health insurance by 2019 if the law stands. For health insurers, that represents a potential boon for both their individual market business as well as in the Medicaid market, where states regularly contract with private insurers to manage care.

"The worst is behind them," says Ipsita Smolinski, president of Capitol Street and senior advisor to McKenna Long & Aldridge, of the outlook for health insurers. "There was so much uncertainty last year. But with the MLR and rate review regulations out, investors know they have a pretty viable future.

And it is the GOP's threatened repeal effort, and not an influx of 32 million new subscribers, which is creating uncertainty among insurers:

Health insurers spent barely anytime discussing Republicans' repeal efforts. Aetna's Zubretsky touched on the subject briefly only to say that Republicans understand that a rifle shot approach to tearing out specific health reform provisions, particularly the individual mandate, would not bode well for their business.

"The unintended consequence of repealing and replacing part of the legislation is the biggest risk here," he said.

Of course, the risks for the American people are much greater still.

Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the GOP's H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, would not only lead to higher out of pocket costs, reduced benefits and saddle employers with higher premiums, but over the next 10 years would add $230 billion to the deficit. On Friday, Harvard economist David Cutler released a paper estimating that that repealing the health law could destroy 250,000 to 400,000 jobs annually over the next decade. And, as the Los Angeles Times reported, major insurers are reporting that thanks to the incentives in the Affordable Care Act, "a growing number of small businesses are signing up to give their workers health benefits."

But Republican bluster over health care pales in comparison to the potentially fatal effects of their refusal to increase the United States debt ceiling.

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House Democrats are not going to be passive and silent while Republicans endeavor to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now that the GOP has set January 12th as the day to bring back pre-existing conditions, Democrats are stepping up to force them to own the consequences of their effort.

Greg Sargent has details on their strategy.

In an interview with me just now, Dem Rep. Anthony Weiner, who is one of the best there is at framing liberal arguments in pugnacious terms, said Dems are leaning towards seeing this fight as an opportunity, and appear to be eschewing their typical "fetal position" on health reform.

Separately, in another development, Dem Rep. Peter Welch -- last seen leading the charge on behalf of House liberals against the Obama tax cut deal -- is circulating a letter among Dems vowing to introduce amendments to the GOP's repeal bill forcing votes directly on the Affordable Care Act's most popular provisions.

Weiner told me this afternoon that he's urging fellow Democrats to see the GOP's repeal push as a chance to do what they failed to do last year in the runup to the midterms: Aggressively make the case for the individual provisions in health reform that the public likes.

"This gives us a chance to unmake the mistake that we made in 2010 -- we shied away from the challenge of explaining exactly what's in the bill," Weiner said. "Polls show that parts of health reform are very popular. That argues for talking more about what's actually in it."

I am looking forward to seeing Republicans argue for repealing the donut hole closure for seniors, and for allowing people to be excluded for pre-existing conditions. I'm especially looking forward to their arguments for repealing the tort reform provisions contained in the bill, too.

Senate Democrats have already fired their shot across the bow in a letter to Speaker-elect Boehner signed by Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, Dick Durbin and Patty Murray.

If House Republicans move forward with a repeal of the health care law that threatens consumer benefits like the "donut hole" fix, we will block it in the Senate. This proposal deserves a chance to work. It is too important to be treated as collateral damage in a partisan mission to repeal health care.

I'm looking forward to seeing them trip over themselves to explain to those seniors who were at the town hall meetings in the summer of 2009 why they're taking away their drug benefit. Or explaining to the parents of college kids why they can't be on their group policy any more. It should be lots of fun. (A full list of provisions taking effect in 2011 can be found here)

Lead on, Boehner, lead on.

Late update: After 2 years of GOP whining about hearings and lack of bipartisanship, this repeal effort will be brought to the floor without even one hearing in any committee.

Amanda Terkel catches a historic moment in the fight for gay rights, as all our military leaders admit to Sen. Mark Udall that they can implement the repeal of DADT and make it work:

In an important moment, Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) asked each service chief to go down the line and answer whether, if DADT is repealed, their branch can implement it and make it work. Every single chief answered in the affirmative.

John McCain continues to buckle under to the pressure of the radical right Tea Party movement and still vows to try and undermine the process.

After a morning of testimony from top Marine Corps, Army and Air Force officers who said Congress should not scrap the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the near-term, John McCain says he might block the bill.

After hearing testimony from the service chiefs, who said repealing the ban now would add more stress to troops during a time of war, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested he could move to prevent floor debate on the 2011 defense authorization bill, which contains the repeal provision.

McCain expressed confidence that the rest of the Republican conference would join him because repealing the ban is not a "compelling" issue at a time when the military is fighting two wars and the U.S. economy is "in the tank." All Senate Republicans have pledged to block consideration of any bill that does not address extending current tax rates or funding the federal government.


Keeping America fastened to pre-FDR policies and 1950s morality seems to be the driving force of the religious right and Tea Party advocates. Another sadly memorable day for the blockers of progress, but the fight continues on.

Republican plans for their victory laps in November should definitely get more publicity. Everyone needs to know what they plan to do to us and against us.

Here's one from the odious Dick Morris:

"There's going to be a government shutdown, just like in '95 and '96 but we're going to win it this time and I'll be fightin' on your side," Morris said at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation Conference on Friday in Washington.

Yep, that's surely what the country needs, isn't it? But when the Washington Post offers Sharron Angle campaign advice to help her win, they should also point out that if she does win, she plans to do exactly nothing. Except possibly to stir an armed insurrection or two, right here in this country.

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See update below for some preliminary money trail notes

It's bad enough to have states spending taxpayers' money on a frivolous effort to repeal health care reform, but it's mind-blowing to see how deep the Republican party's involvement was in those lawsuits.

One Wisconsin Now has released an email (PDF) it obtained showing a direct line between the Wisconsin Attorney General's office and the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC).

From their press release:

The emails One Wisconsin Now obtained indicate [Wisconsin Dep. AG] Taffora had contacted [RSLC Political Director] Cannatti looking for lawsuit information. Cannatti's response, which was sent at 9:09 the morning immediately following passage of the health reform bill, suggested Taffora talk to Bryan Stirling, the Deputy Attorney General of South Carolina, who Cannatti said was "coordinating efforts" between the Republican Attorneys General filing the lawsuit.

Among the largest contributors to the RSLC is the American Justice Partnership, created by the National Association of Manufacturers. The American Justice Partnership has donated $2 million to RSLC since 2006 and its website features advertisements run by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce against Kathleen Falk in 2006, Van Hollen's opponent. WMC spent an estimated $2.5 million in Van Hollen's razor-thin victory. The page, also featuring WMC ads for pro-corporate Supreme Court Justices Mike Gableman and Annette Ziegler, is available at: http://americanjusticepartnership.com/partners.php

Van Hollen needs to explain why instead of consulting legal experts and constitutional scholars, he was relying on advice from political consultants," said Ross. "It's a gross abuse of power when the Attorney General puts politics above the law."

Van Hollen's office is refusing to release the full extent of email communications regarding the potential lawsuit requested March 24 by One Wisconsin Now. The request sought documents and communications between the Attorney General's office about the potential lawsuit dating back to January 1, 2010. Van Hollen claims the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege, though it is clearly not the citizens of Wisconsin, his only true clients, that Van Hollen is trying to protect.

We all know these lawsuits are politically motivated. That's no surprise at all. Attorney Generals are elected to oversee the legal interests of the people of the state they represent. They are not elected to do the bidding of high-rolling Republican donors.

And yet, they are. I'll have more on the players in this particular drama as soon as I can put it all together for you. In the meantime, here's a picture of the ugly truth.

Update #1: Following the money, honey:

Ken Cuccinelli, VA Attorney General - Filed one of the earliest lawsuits on March 23, 2010. Received a $15,000 contribution from the RSLC sent February 16, 2010.

Greg Abbott, TX Attorney General - Filed one of the earliest lawsuits on March 23, 2010. Received a $50,000 contribution from the RSLC sent December 18, 2009.

Wayne Stenehjem, ND Attorney General - Joined other states on April 5, 2010. Received $25,000 contribution from the RSLC sent March 16, 2010.

Finally, the RSLC-TENNESSEE PAC received a transfer of $200,000 on December 18, 2009. I'm still tracking down where the funds went after that transfer. Because it is state-based, it depends upon the state disclosure system and what information they release.

Stay tuned.

Health care reform is going to be the law of the land when the President signs it in to law tomorrow morning. When that happens, good things happen for individuals, small businesses and senior citizens. You'd think this would be what the media was talking about. But no, as John King demonstrates, what CNN deems important is the GOP threat to repeal health care reform.

KING: "Wall to Wall" tonight, a look at the next chapter in the health care political debate. The Democratic plan will soon be the law of the land. But a majority of Americans tell us they don't like it. And as the president hits the road again to sell it, the big question is whether passage of this landmark proposal gives him a political bounce. There is no doubt, check this out, that he could use one. Let's take a look at the president's approval rating since taking office. We'll go back to the beginning here and watch as this plays out.

In a remarkable exchange with former Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers and former Mitt Romney* communications director Kevin Madden, King leads off by pointing to the full 2,074-page bill while holding Michelle Bachmann's newly-introduced measure to repeal the bill. Despite DeeDee Myers' best efforts to focus the discussion on what reform really means to every American, Kevin Madden (with King's assistance) drives the debate back to vague, unsubstantiated lies and right-wing rumors.

No matter how many times Myers tries to tick off benefits of reform, Madden continues to spout the latest Luntz talking points with John King's full blessing. The most remarkable comment comes from Madden at about 3:30, where Myers points out that on Wednesday morning, the majority of Americans will wake up and discover they have the very same health insurance they had last week.

Madden's response? "The American people have been sold a bill of goods...they're going to expect something now."

Well, yes. Exactly. And what will happen when they get it? Who is selling the bill of goods here? As facts turn to reality, and people see benefits like small businesses getting tax credits and senior citizens saving money on prescription drugs, who will they believe sold them that bill of goods?

Please, Republicans, keep selling that repeal message. Sell it hard so we can elect an even bigger Democratic majority in November.

*corrected