By: Jane Hamsher Friday July 17, 2009 7:46 am

Mike Stark spoke with Charles Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, on the Hill.

Mike wanted to know how Mike Ross (D-AR) — who is negotiating for the Blue Dogs — can threaten to stop the House health care bill from going through without repercussion. Rangel says that Mike should ask Ross, but that’s not the question — Ross isn’t going to punish himself.

Update: Ways & Means passed the bill. We lost three Democrats: Kind, Tanner and my good friend Pomeroy. Education & Labor also just voted the bill out of committee. We lost three Dems there too: Polis, Titus & Altmire. Which is just wrong.

Polis’s office is 202.225.2161. We shouldn’t be losing someone like him.

22 Comments

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22 Responses to “Charles Rangel on Blue Dogs Holding Health Care Hostage”

cbl2 July 17th, 2009 at 8:08 am

help!

per slinky’s tweet, Big Orange Liveblog diary about to fall from Rec list – can firedogs go over and pls rec it up ?

thankee

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..lth-Reform!

yellowsnapdragon July 17th, 2009 at 8:18 am

How is it possible that Rangel does not know what Firedoglake is and what FDL is trying to do? Isn’t he working on healthcare? Hello!?

selise July 17th, 2009 at 8:19 am

In response to cbl2 @ 1

done. thanks for the heads up.

Glenda July 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am

Jane
Mike Ross is from Arkansas – (D-AR)
AK is Alaska

yellowsnapdragon July 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am

Rangel’s attitude about being questioned re Blue Dogs blocking healthcare legislation was insulting to progressives, IMO. Progressives are representing 76 percent of the people fercrissakes.

Kitt July 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am

Claims not to know who Mike Ross is either, and claims not to understand the difference between asking someone, Ross, why they are doing what they are doing, and asking someone, Rangel, the question of what can or are you going to do, Congressman Rangel, about that Representative, (no matter the name of the representative) who is trying to undermine your supposed agenda.

yellowsnapdragon July 17th, 2009 at 8:27 am

In response to Kitt @ 6

Yep. Rangel’s response exposes either a lack of coordination and planning to get the legislation passed, or collusion with the Blue Dogs to prevent any meaningful reform.

cbl2 July 17th, 2009 at 8:38 am

not finding numbers for Polis’s district – but as of 2/09, there were 750,000+ Coloradoans without heatlh insurance

Blue Dog John Salazar’s district: 23.1% uninsured

Betsey Markey’s district: 17.7%

cbl2 July 17th, 2009 at 8:43 am

Blew Dogs

Altmeyer 6.7% constituents uninsured

Tanner: 16.1 %

Pomeroy: 11.6%

foothillsmike July 17th, 2009 at 8:49 am

In response to cbl2 @ 8

Some contacts.
http://healthcareforallcolorado.org/
I thought Polis was an advocate for single payer?

Jane Hamsher July 17th, 2009 at 8:50 am

In response to cbl2 @ 9

Yep everyone is waffling.

Wexler won’t confirm he’s on the whip list:

http://campaignsilo.firedoglak…..whip-list/

And neither will Andre Carson:

http://campaignsilo.firedoglak…..whip-list/

cbl2 July 17th, 2009 at 8:53 am

fyi – Pomeroy’s open secrets page: Top 5

2010 cycle

Top 5 Industries

Insurance $51,300

Health Professionals $47,035

Crop Production & Basic Processing $16,000

Electric Utilities $12,500

Lawyers/Law Firms $10,500

yeah I know, I’m shocked as well

cbl2 July 17th, 2009 at 8:56 am

In response to foothillsmike @ 10

you do recall Jane had predicted this particular gambit

frederic July 17th, 2009 at 9:01 am

Charles Rangel is an imbecile. I can’t believe you libs vote for complete morons; Al Franken, Joe Biden, Barney Frank, Obama just to name a few. and yes obama.. he can speak well when he has a teleprompter but stumbles and fumbles without it and not to mention that although “educated” he is really quite a dumbass that is in way over his head. He doesn’t have the first damn clue what the hell he is doing. I would love to know what the average IQ is of the democratic politicians and democratic voters.

Twain July 17th, 2009 at 9:05 am

S
C
R
O
L
L

clemensol July 17th, 2009 at 9:06 am

The real challenge will be the energy and commerce bill. That committee has way to many blue dogs, already gave us the disgraceful cap and trade bill, and according to Ross has 10 democrats opposed to the bill.

BooRadley July 17th, 2009 at 9:16 am

Polis’ DC line is busy.

Mamashlo July 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am

Folks may also want to lean on Senate Finance who seem set to sell out the public option over the next few days. They are: Blanche Lincoln AR (202) 224-4843, Max Baucus MT (202) 224-2651, Kent Conrad ND (202) 224-2043, Jeff Bingaman NM (202) 224-5521, Chris Dodd CT (202) 224-2823, Ron Wyden OR (202) 224-5244, Jay Rockefeller WV (202) 224-6472, John Kerry MA (202) 224-2742, Charles Schumer NY (202) 224-6542, Debbie Stabenow MI (202) 224-4822, Maria Cantwell WA (202) 224-3441, Robert Menendez NJ (202) 224-4744, Thomas Carper DE (202) 224-2441, Bill Nelson FL (202) 224-5274 (don’t confuse with far-right Ben Nelson NB), Olympia Snowe ME (202) 224-5344

Mamashlo July 17th, 2009 at 9:23 am

You might also want to call folks on Senate Finance currently deciding their version of the bill in next few days, they are: Blanche Lincoln AR (202) 224-4843, Max Baucus MT (202) 224-2651, Kent Conrad ND (202) 224-2043, Jeff Bingaman NM (202) 224-5521, Chris Dodd CT (202) 224-2823, Ron Wyden OR (202) 224-5244, Jay Rockefeller WV (202) 224-6472, John Kerry MA (202) 224-2742, Charles Schumer NY (202) 224-6542, Debbie Stabenow MI (202) 224-4822, Maria Cantwell WA (202) 224-3441, Robert Menendez NJ (202) 224-4744, Thomas Carper DE (202) 224-2441, Bill Nelson FL (202) 224-5274, Olympia Snowe ME (202) 224-5344, Senate Leadership Harry Reid (202) 224-3542 PRESS 1, Dick Durbin (202) 224-2152…

ralphbon July 17th, 2009 at 9:52 am

I’d like to hear Polis’s explanation.

selise July 17th, 2009 at 10:02 am

Ways & Means passed the bill. We lost three Democrats: Kind, Tanner and my good friend Pomeroy. Education & Labor also just voted the bill out of committee. We lost three Dems there too: Polis, Titus & Altmire. Which is just wrong.

do the bills, as passed from committee, meet the hcan and/or cpc criteria?

mickey61988 July 17th, 2009 at 11:52 am

In response to frederic @ 14

It may be low but it’s like Mt.Everest compared to Repugs.

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