Melissa Bean And Bill Foster Still Undecided

On Health Reform: Rep. Luis Gutierrez Says

He Will Vote 'Yes'
First Posted: 03-19-10 09:57 AM | Updated: 03-19-10 01:27 PM

With a final vote on health care reform possibly coming Sunday, some
Illinois Democrats remain undecided on the bill, while other key players
have reluctantly gotten on board.
On Wednesday, former Obama ally and Illinois Congressman Luis
Gutierrez wrote in a blog for the Huffington Post that he would not support
a bill that "denies immigrants the opportunity to purchase health care with
their own money," and ripped Obama for his inaction on immigration
reform. He insisted he would vote "no" on the measure, but on
Thursday, said he would reluctantly vote "yes."

Liberal Chicago Democrat Bobby Rush has also been going back and forth
on the bill, but The Hill reported Thursday that he was "working something
out" and called the bill "a moving target."
But other Illinois Dems have not been swayed yet, at least not publicly.
NBC Chicago on Monday listed Illinois Democrats who have a problem
with the bill, and as of Friday morning none of them aside from Gutierrez
had publicly changed their stance--though as Progress Illinois points out,
they may be wavering.
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Rep. Jerry Costello (D-12th District) told the Telegraph that he would "not
vote for the Senate bill in its current form," saying the bill allows public
funding for abortions (a claim that has been held on to by anti-choice
politicians, but has ultimately been debunked--the bill does not allow
federal money for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect
the life of the mother.)
Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-3rd District) is on the same boat, saying he won't
vote for the bill if the abortion language is not changed. He also said the
bill includes an "abortion premium"--which has also been debunked as you
can see by reading the actual bill.
Minnesota congressman and staunch pro-lifer James Oberstar came out in
favor of the bill Wednesday, and said the bill does not endanger the Hyde
amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortions, Progress Illinois
reports. Whether his stance can sway Lipinski and Costello remains to be
seen, but they may face some serious heat from their constituents if they
vote "no."
In a letter to HuffPost Chicago, John Atkinson, who lives in Lipinski's
district, wrote:
"...those who care to look beyond the headlines discover that the senate
version of the bill is actually more pro-life than the version "The Heir"
[Lipinski] wants in his. Never mind that scores of Pro-Life Catholic groups
and leaders support the senate/Obama version, Danny boy still needs the
attention his steadfast "no" vote gets him."

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Health care protesters and supporters gathered outside Rep. Melissa Bean
(D-8th District)'s Schaumburg office Tuesday to voice their opinions on the
matter. Bean voted yes on the House bill, but has been undecided about
reconciliation.
Debbie Halvorson (D-11th District) and Bill Foster (D-14th District), are
also undecided on the bill. As NBC points out, Foster voted yes to House
version last year, but opposed Senate bill. His spokeswoman told
the Pioneer Press that Foster has "no specific problems with the bill as
passed by the Senate last December," but wants to take time and re-read
it.
Politico reports that Bean and Foster are part of a group who need to be
convinced by party leadership to "stay on board despite the deteriorating
conditions in many of their races, and figure out a way to assuage those
who oppose abortion."
Also, following the Congressional Budget Office's report that the bill would
decrease the federal deficit by $138 billion in a ten-year period, some state
labor groups say they will bring down whoever votes against reform.
Progress Illinois reports:
"We will pull support for any Democrat who opposes health care and
seriously consider mounting primary challenges against them next cycle,"
says Jerry Morrison, executive director of the SEIU Illinois State Council
(who sponsors this website). Those opposing the package will also have to
go back to their districts and explain to voters why they ultimately
prevented thousands of constituents from receiving affordable and
comprehensive health care.
After taking out an ad in local papers ripping Lipinski for his stance on health
reform, Atkinson added in his letter to HuffPost:
"My kids looked at this ad and said Dad, why are you doing this? Then
they remember what we talked about when we discussed how to make this
country better for others as they were growing up. Healthcare was always
at the top of our lists."