Senate bill passes the House, 219-212 // Reconciliation passes too

They needed 216. Not a single Republican voted for the bill. Typical. They really are very good at saying no, and not thinking for themselves.

Now they debate and vote on the GOP effort to kill the bill (the Motion to Recommit), then they vote on the Reconciliation fix.

The roll call is here. Read the rest of this post...

GOP member yells 'baby killer!' at Stupak

Good thing he took such a hard line on abortion, otherwise the GOP might be mean to him. Read the rest of this post...

Final HCR votes coming up in 15 to 30 minutes

The House Democratic leadership says the votes should begin in 15 to 30 minutes.

First there's the vote on the Senate health care bill.

Then 15 minutes of debate on the GOP effort to kill the bill (the Motion to Recommit). Then the vote on the Motion to Recommit.

And finally a vote on the Reconciliation fixes to the Senate bill.

Details from the Majority Leader's Office:

1) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Reps. Waxman/Levin/George Miller – Energy and Commerce/Ways and Means/Education and Labor) – 15 minutes

2) Motion to Recommit H.R. 4872 –15 minutes

3) Final Passage of H.R. 4872 - Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Rep. Spratt – Budget) –15 minutes

4) H.Res. 1099 - Recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima (Rep. Braley - Armed Services) Suspension bill – 5 minutes

5) H.Res. 1119 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all people in the United States should participate in a moment of silence to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces both at home and abroad (Rep. Peters - Armed Services) Suspension bill – 5 minutes

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NOW/NARAL 'incensed' over Obama/Stupak deal

Wash Post:

The president of the National Organization for Women said her group is "incensed" about the impasse-breaking deal between President Obama and a group of anti-abortion Catholic Democrats that seems likely to allow historic health-care reform legislation to pass the House later Sunday night, saying the planned presidential executive order "breaks faith with women."

Other reproductive rights groups, as well as abortion opponents, are also displeased with the compromise.

In 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign had promised abortion-rights supporters that he would work to overturn the Hyde Amendment, which NOW President Terry O'Neill said Sunday would instead be given fresh weight by Obama's executive order.

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Teabaggers call Dem congressmen 'faggot' and 'nigger,' GOP congressman blames Dems for it

It's sad how Democratic totalitarianism turns Republicans into bigots. A lot.

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Boehner tells GOP to act like grownups

Too late. Read the rest of this post...

I'm live tweeting rather than live blogging the health care reform debate in the House

The vote is tonight. Been watching. Been tweeting at lot. @aravosis. But feel free to chime in in the comments too. Read the rest of this post...

Vote on the rule passes the House, 224-206; harbinger of final HCR vote

Chris bowers updates us on the Health Care Reform final hours taking place right now. Read the rest of this post...

Deal reached with Stupak on HCR

Garance reports. Not totally clear what it means yet. Read the rest of this post...

LA restaurant that served endangered whale meat charged and will close

It's going to be interesting to see what penalty the courts deliver. The restaurant owner is also saying they will donate a significant amount of money to organizations who are involved in the preservation of endangered species. Unless they want picketers at their other businesses, I hope that's true. Thanks to our friend Cat for the link.

A Los Angeles-area sushi restaurant that made international headlines after it was charged with serving endangered whale meat will close forever as a "self-imposed punishment," according to a statement on its website.

The parent company of the The Hump, a popular Santa Monica restaurant, and sushi chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto were charged on March 11 with violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to sell whale meat.

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Busy weekend

Joe and I went to a meeting about Don't Ask Don't Tell that one of the big groups, Servicemembers United, was holding. Very interesting - overall discussion of strategy, where we are, what we still need to do. I got to run into a few readers I know by email, but have never met. Also met Justin Elzie, who is one of the heroes of DADT repeal in 1993, which was very cool. Then last night we went to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network dinner, again DADT related, and saw a slew of folks, including Rachel Maddow (who I met for the first time since I was on her radio show in NYC probably six years ago), saw Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post, met some House and Senate staff, some reporters with the Hill newspaper, Kerry Eleveld with the Advocate, Chris Johnson with DC Agenda, saw Frank Kameny, a historic figure in the gay community (early gay rights defender, now in his 70s I believe). Just a very interesting evening. And today is the immigration march, that Joe is attending on our behalf (I'm politicked out at this point). And it's a balmy 70-something in Washington. Not bad at all. Read the rest of this post...

Steny Hoyer condemns racist and homophobic attack by Teabagger protesters

Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is the number two Democrat in the House:

Hoyer Condemns Inflammatory Behavior at Health Reform Protest

Washington, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after learning that Members of Congress were subjected to racist and inflammatory behavior at today's health reform protest:

"Today's protests against health insurance reform saw a rash of despicable, inflammatory behavior, much of it directed at minority Members of Congress. According to reports, anti-reform protestors spat on Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, yelled a sexual slur at Rep. Barney Frank, and addressed my dear friend, Rep. John Lewis, with a racial slur that he has sadly heard far too many times. On the one hand, I am saddened that America's debate on health care--which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect--has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility. But on the other, I know that every step toward a more just America has aroused similar hate in its own time; and I know that John Lewis, a hero of the civil rights movement, has learned to wear the worst slurs as a badge of honor.

"America always has room for open and spirited debate, and the hateful actions of some should not cast doubt on the good motives of the majority, on both sides of this argument. But Members of Congress and opinion leaders ought to come to terms with their responsibility for inciting the tone and actions we saw today. A debate that began with false fears of forced euthanasia has ended in a truly ugly scene. It is incumbent on all of us to do better next time."

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Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) rips 'teabagger protesters' for calling gay congressman 'faggot', black congressman 'nigger', and spitting on another

One hell of a statement from Rep. Tim Ryan about the Teabagger protesters in Washington on Saturday calling gay congressman Barney Frank a "faggot" (the crowd of teabagger onlookers reportedly laughed), called African-American congressman, and civil rights hero, John Lewis a "nigger," and then spitting on a second black congressman, Emanuel Cleaver.

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Velvet Underground & Nico

Despite a bit of drizzle yesterday over here was nice. I made it as far as Noisy-le-Grand and loved seeing the boat houses along the Marne so active. Rowers and kayaks were all over the place for miles. The trees and bushes were all starting to show signs of spring. Even our forsythia is halfway there in our shady garden. If the weather holds we may join friends and head out along the canal de l'Ourq later today. Read the rest of this post...

Ireland unimpressed with Pope's letter, Cardinal Brady has yet to quit or be fired

How is it possible to support the church when you have someone like Cardinal Brady still around? He should have been among the first to be fired since he admitted to participating in secret meetings where young boys were forced to sign vows of silence. Maybe the church still has support among the elderly but their future could not possibly look any worse in the former bastion of support in western Europe. The Guardian:

Adrienne Kelly, on a day out from Co Meath, said the papal letter of apology had come too late. "The damage is already done," she said. "There doesn't seem to be any way back for the church now after all the scandal and the abuse. It's very sad, but people are very angry over what has been done to children in this country by so-called men of God. You just cannot make all this scandal go away in one letter."

Maureen Murphy from Killmainham in Dublin said she did not think the pope's intervention would make much difference. "It must be terrible for older people in Ireland who love their church to hear all this. But younger people don't listen any longer to the hierarchy. They are spiritual in their own way and don't want to be told what to do. It's also a shame for all the really good holy men still in the church who have done no wrong. It would be unfair to tar them all with the same brush. But this letter won't change things now. There has been too much scandal, too much horrible stuff."

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Fed loses appeal, forced to disclose nearly-failed banks

Just so everyone is clear on this important issue, the Federal Reserve fought against disclosure and lost. Tell me again why anyone trusts the Fed to properly regulate and be in charge of consumer protection? They actively fought against consumers and openness so it's a mystery why anyone outside of the Wall Street companies (and the GOP) would trust them for a second. The Fed is as full of obstructionists as the GOP themselves. People in the real world deserve to know the truth so quit protecting the protected class and let them live in the real world like everyone else.

The Federal Reserve will be required to identify the names of banks that could have collapsed if not for the central bank's emergency lending, a federal appeals court said Friday.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled that the Fed needs to disclose documents in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by Bloomberg L.P. and other news organizations.

The Federal Reserve is considering its options after the decision.

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