Here is an updated list of where Democratic House members stand on ObamaCare, courtesy of Take Back Medicine. All evidence points to Pelosi not having the votes, but that assumes that the Stupak 12 can’t be bought off, and things are very much in flux.
One of the interesting things on that list is that they show three original No votes on ObamaCare flipping to Yes this time:
I hope to examine each in turn, but for now let’s focus on Altmire.
Rep. Jason Altmire
Altmire sounds like less than a firm “Yes” in this Fox News interview, although he does think that the Senate bill plus reconciliation will provide more cost containment than the House bill he voted against. Of course, if the Senate ObamaCare bill passes the House, it can become law without any reconciliation…
He also says he’s waiting on the CBO score.
Tea Party Protesters are targeting his office.
Personal Background
Interestingly, Altmire saw firsthand how the attempt to pass ClintonCare wrecked many congressional careers:
“It was clear [the White House] was trying to do everything all at once, and even I knew at the time that in the districts like the one [Florida Democratic Rep. Pete] Peterson represented, it had no chance of getting political support”
Also interesting is that he worked as “a lobbyist for the Federation of American Hospitals.” They’re one of the Big Medicine backers of ObamaCare.
District Background
Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District lies just north of Pittsburgh on the Ohio border, and is competitive-to-leans-conservative. According to these handy figures compiled by folks on the other side, it went for McCain over Obama 55% to 44%, and went for Bush over both Kerry and Gore.
ObamaCare doesn’t seem to be particularly popular among Altmire’s constituents:
PA-4 Jason Altmire
81% worry the health bill will raise their taxes.
93% say it’s very or somewhat likely that his vote will matter in November.
30% favor health bill while 58% oppose.
29% favor use of reconciliation 60% oppose
There are rumors that Pittsburgh Steeler great Lynn Swann, who ran as a Republican for Governor in 2006, may jump into the race against Altmire.
His Backers
According to Open Secrets, three of the top five industries contributing to Altmire’s campaign are related to the health care industry:
Top 5 Industries, 2009-2010, Campaign Cmte
Industry Total Indivs PACs
Health Professionals $74,160 $18,160 $56,000
Mining $53,100 $37,100 $16,000
Lawyers/Law Firms $51,446 $34,246 $17,200
Hospitals/Nursing Homes $50,350 $20,850 $29,500
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $47,421 $9,375 $38,046
A list of his biggest donors. Notice the donations from HealthSouth CEO Jay Grinney.
Also of interest: Joel W. McCleary, who you may remember from his ties to the late John Murtha.
Contact Information
Here’s the contact information from his House website. If you live in PA 04, you might wish to contact the Congressman to let him know of your opposition to ObamaCare:
Main Offices
Please direct all written correspondence to the Aliquippa District Office.
Aliquippa Office
2110 McLean Street
Aliquippa, PA 15001
724-378-0928
724-378-6171 (fax)Natrona Heights Office
2124 Freeport Road
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
724-226-1304
724-226-1308 (fax)Washington, D.C. Office
332 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2565
202-226-2274(fax)Satellite Offices
Cranberry Township Office
Cranberry Township Municipal Building
2525 Rochester Road
Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6499
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm – First and Third Thursdays of every monthEllwood City Office
Ellwood City Municipal Building
Lawrence Avenue
Ellwood City, PA 16117
2:00 pm to 6:00pm – 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every monthFarrell Office
Farrell City Building
500 Roemer Blvd
Farrell, PA 16121
9 am to 1:00 pm – 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every monthMurrysville Office
Murrysville Municipal Building
4100 Sardis Road
Murrysville, PA 15668
2 pm to 4 pm – Second Tuesday of every month
4 pm to 7 pm – Fourth Tuesday of every monthNew Castle Office
Lawrence County Government Center
430 Court Street
1st Floor Caucus Room
New Castle, PA 16101
8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Every Wednesday and FridayRoss Township Office
Ross Township Municipal Building
Recreation Center
1000 Ross Municipal Drive
Pittsburgh,PA 15237
9:00 am to 12:00 pm – First and Third Thursdays of every month
Here’s a page to request a personal meeting with Altmire. That page also supplies an email address altmireschedule@mail.house.gov to contact for a personal meeting.
You might also consider trying to contact him through his campaign’s website.
Conclusion
If Altmire does vote in favor of ObamaCare this time around, PA 04 would be a prime target for Republicans to flip in November.
Updated: More protests at Altmire’s offices.
Tags: Federation of American Hospitals, Jason Altmire, Jay Grinney, Joel McCleary, Lynn Swann, ObamaCare, PA 04, Pennsylvania
Good article on Altmire. Salena Zito of the Pittsburgh Tribune has reported that the Teaparty Protesters that have been at Altmire’s office for the past few days believe that his statements to them indicate he is leaning strongly to “yes”.
Quite honestly, that vote could cost him his job, especially if Swann can find his way into the race.
[…] See more here: ObamaCare House Scorecard Update: Is Rep. Jason Altmire, PA 04 … […]
[…] week we discussed Rep. Jason Altmire as a possible “No-to-Yes” flip vote on ObamaCare. The other two names listed were Bart […]
I’ve tried repeatedly to contact Altmire’s office. All mailboxes are full. One staffer told me that my response couldn’t be entered into the computer because I didn’t have a PA zipcode and hung up on me. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Mr. A is a United States Congressman! Unbelievable.
[…] Here’s the profile I did on him last week. Glad to know his constituents made him see the light. […]
the problem with Altmire is that he would have voted Yes if Obama and Pilosi would have needed him to. He saw the tally and knew he was not needed and then and only then votes no
Swan in NOVEMBER and Huckabee in 2012 and we can turn this titanic around and save our country
[…] as I predicted, she was easier to flip to a Yes vote that Rep. Jason Altmire (PA 4), who I also profiled, and who stuck to his no vote. Which goes a long way toward explaining why Kosmas is likely to lose […]
[…] Altmire, by contrast, was one of those loathsome “Blue Dog Democrats” that so many liberals feel are merely Republicans in disguise. He voted against ObamaCare. If liberal theories were correct, disheartened liberals should have assured his defeat. He won in a year that fellow Blue Dogs who voted for ObamaCare were being slaughtered. […]