Rep. Stephen Lynch, in MA-9, voted for the health care bill in November but announced today that he’s voting against the new compromise bill — supposedly from the LEFT.
That is, he says he won’t back the new bill because it’s weaker than the original House bill, doesn’t do enough to constrain insurance companies and doesn’t allow for a public option. In other words, we’re supposed to believe Lynch is to the left of Kucinich on this issue. This is wildly implausible. Lynch is a DINO, and his opposition to the bill is from the right. Who does he think he is fooling?
My larger question is: Is there any possibility of a labor-backed primary opponent for Lynch — from the actual left? MA-09 (South Boston) is not the bluest of MA districts, but my hunch is that labor is pretty strong there. It might be important for the larger project of keeping wavering “Yes” votes in line on this bill for some plausible primary opponent to at least begin to get talked about for Lynch.
The filing deadline in MA is not until 6/1…
Despite pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston said today that he will vote against President Obama’s health care overhaul when it comes to the House floor, contending that it doesn’t put enough pressure on insurance companies to reduce costs.
The move is a switch for Lynch, who voted in favor of the House health care bill in November. But he said the current version, which was approved by the Senate, is not as strong as that measure.
— http://blogcabin.boston.com/mt…
Lynch goes on to criticize the raw deal Massachusetts gets financially from the bill because it’s already so far ahead of other states in covering the uninsured, but the main line of his critique is that this bill is weaker than the House bill (not surprising, since he has to justify his vote switch).
This is not the first time a conservative Democrat has characterized skepticism about HCR as being from the left when it is actually from the right. (Isn’t that the trick Massa tried to pull before his spectacular recent flameout?)
Well, when it comes down to it, the result is still punching the bill in the face from the front, no matter which way you spin it.
was ambiguous. It’s probably better for all of us not to try to put ourselves in that man’s mind.
Primary challenge to Lynch sounds good to me. It’s a D+11 district, so not too too risky. He’s apparently meeting with Obama this afternoon, and may come around yet. Even in that case, a primary challenge still sounds pretty good to me. He’s one of those like Lipinski, who is a waste of a very Democratic district.
Kucinich and Gutierrez have already switched. I shall wait for the rollcall.
The House defeated the GOP effort to stop “Deem and Pass”.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/…
Odd that Lynch trashed it in his statement then votes the other way.
I suspect this isn’t perfect science but the switches are:
No to Yes – 21 (Scott Murphy, Chet Edwards, Boccieri, Kissell, Altmire, Betsy Markey, Marshall, Kucinich, Lincoln Davis, Boyd, McMahon, Baird, Matheson, Chandler, Skelton, Barrow, Peterson, Bart Gordon, Ross, Boucher, Tanner)
Yes to No – 12 (Dahlkemper, Costello, Cooper, Carney, Arcuri, Giffords, Lipinski, McNerney, Michaud, Stupak, Perriello, Mitchell)
No and still No – 16 (Bright, Kratovil, Minnick, Adler, Nye, Childers, Teague, Kosmas, Shuler, Holden, Herseth Sandlin, Mike McIntyre, Dan Boren, Gene Taylor, Artur Davis, Melancon)
Some correlation there. I like that the former list is longer. Then again, some members in each category are on record as planning to vote the other way at the weekend.
there are commenters proposing a primary to Dennis Kucinich for not being sufficiently progressive, now that he is compromising on HCR. I had to slap myself in the face a few times before that one registered. Wow!
I’m doing target practice for paintball (Yes I paintball, not much else to do around here) I plan on using a picture of Lynch. Kidding (?), but all the same can someone give me a list of candidates that might be interested in the upgrade?
There’s no way Lynch is voting NO from the left. However, I can see Lynch as an easy Stupak Stooge. From a very Irish Catholic district, I can see the Bishops and, to some extent, his constituents, really forcing this issue.
Perhaps not in this cycle, but there are now rumors that Loretta Sanchez is a no vote. Considering her seniority she should be ashamed of herself. She would have been fine if she voted yes, but she is now going to make some vulnerable freshman make up her vote. Shame on her!