Republicans Hint At Strategy To Defeat Health Bill

The New York Times: "At a meeting of the House Republican conference on Wednesday morning, the Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, told his colleagues that he believed they could defeat the Democrats' health care legislation, according to officials who heard his remarks." Boehner also urged Republicans to push to open the now-secret negotiations between Democrats to the public "and to continue to engage their constituents on the issue over the coming weeks" (Herszenhorn, 1/13).

The Hill: "Republicans are targeting 40-50 House Democrats in their efforts to open up healthcare bill negotiations to the media." GOP leaders are hoping to gather a total of "218 signatures in support of a discharge petition that would subject closed-door negotiations on the health bill by Democrats to C-SPAN's television cameras." C-SPAN had independently asked Democrats to allow coverage of their negotiations, something President Obama promised during his campaign. That request was denied (O'Brien, 1/13). 

MSNBC:" As the House gets back to work this week, GOP leaders want to make sure Democrats know that the fight over health care 'ain't over.'" Following this morning's Republican Conference meeting, GOP leaders "hinted at a 37-Democrat strategy" that would lead to the health bill's defeat in the House. "House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said they are looking at Democratic members who 'are in districts and seats that are particularly upset and vulnerable to the provisions of this health-care bill'" (Thomas and Russert, 1/13).