House Of Reps will vote on Single-Payer Health coverage.

[SirNitram]

Link

Anthony Weiner is about to be the new hero of the progressive crowd after getting a promise from Nancy Pelosi to debate — and vote — on a single-payer plan to solve health care reform.

Weiner got that promise after he agreed to withdraw an amendment to essentially create Medicare for the whole nation in the Energy and Commerce Committee health care markup session this evening.

The Brooklyn-Queens Rep. looked a little surprised when Chairman Henry Waxman said Pelosi would allow that vote, and made Waxman repeat the deal to be sure it was clear and on the record.

It’s an especially big deal for advocates of a single health care system — who see it as cheaper and simpler than the complicated measure being drawn up — because they have been complaining that they have not even been able to get an airing of their position.

And having the vote of the floor of the House will force members to declare a position, and bring much more attention to the idea.

Update: Weiner, who high-fived Tammy Baldwin after getting the deal, crows in a quick press release:

“It’s a Better Plan and now it’s on Center Stage,” says Weiner

Washington, DC - Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee announced today that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pledged to give Single-Payer an up or down vote when healthcare reform is considered before year’s end.

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Middle Class Caucus and member of the Energy & Commerce Committee who led the effort with Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA); Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY); Rep. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL); Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL); and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), released the following statement:

“Single-payer is a better plan and now it is on center stage. Americans have a clear choice. Their Member of Congress will have a simpler, less expensive and smarter bill to choose. I am thrilled that the Speaker is giving us that choice.”

While Baucus gets the media attention(Because Washington media cares more about conservatives messing up everyone else than anything else), the House bill is now out of all committees and ready to be assembled together for a floor vote. And now we will have a guaranteed vote on Single Payer.

[RedImperator]

I'm assuming the only reason Pelosi is letting it come to the floor is because she's dead certain it doesn't have the votes to pass. Still, it's nice that at least the House will be talking about it.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

I'm assuming the only reason Pelosi is letting it come to the floor is because she's dead certain it doesn't have the votes to pass. Still, it's nice that at least the House will be talking about it.

If even a few Blue Dogs could be convinced that it would save more money than the insane proposal currently being pushed, she could be in for one hell of a surprise. Of course the Senate will never stand for it.

[Knife]

Pretty sure this is the same guy who forced a vote on an Amendment of his, about abandoning Medicare, so as to get GOPers on record on either for Government sponsored healthcare or against Medicare (and supposedly against old people). Cleaver guy, and will give plenty of ammo for the Dem's for the August recess.

[Vympel]

If even a few Blue Dogs could be convinced that it would save more money than the insane proposal currently being pushed, she could be in for one hell of a surprise. Of course the Senate will never stand for it.

But none of them care about how much money it saves. All they care about is what bullshit, do-nothing, disastrous legislation they can get through to make it look like a: they've done something, and b: not hurt a single fraction of a percent of profit of their corporate masters.

[Lost Soal]

Pretty sure this is the same guy who forced a vote on an Amendment of his, about abandoning Medicare, so as to get GOPers on record on either for Government sponsored healthcare or against Medicare (and supposedly against old people). Cleaver guy, and will give plenty of ammo for the Dem's for the August recess.

It was. Saw him on Rachel Maddow and he said his next move was to push for Single Payer.
What do you know, a politician who tells the truth. I was beginning to think they had become extinct.

[CmdrWilkens]

Pretty sure this is the same guy who forced a vote on an Amendment of his, about abandoning Medicare, so as to get GOPers on record on either for Government sponsored healthcare or against Medicare (and supposedly against old people). Cleaver guy, and will give plenty of ammo for the Dem's for the August recess.

It was. Saw him on Rachel Maddow and he said his next move was to push for Single Payer.
What do you know, a politician who tells the truth. I was beginning to think they had become extinct.

He is one of the guys who realized that when you are ideologically aligned with your constituents who do the actual voting then being a rather brazen advocate for them is good electoral strategy. This is a guy from a solid Blue district who won't face a challenege from the left and isn't likely to find a challenge from the right. An awful lot of politicians would use that as an excuseto suck up donation money and live the fat life. So that being said kudos to him for realizing that doing what he thinks is right probably saves him fom having to fundraise out the ying yang just to get re-elected to do the same all over again.