GOP Peeved at Pelosi's New House Rules

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin has returned to her Facebook soapbox to reinvigorate the "death panels" meme she helped popularize. "We had been told there were no 'death panels' in the bill," says an essay posted to the former Alaska governor's page. "But look closely at the provision mandating bureaucratic panels that will be calling the shots regarding who will receive government health care." More»

Majority leader bemoans 'delay tactics'

(NEWSER) - The House may not vote on its health care reform bill tomorrow after all, thanks to Democrats' squabbling over abortion and spending, Steny Hoyer said today. “We’re very close,” the majority leader insisted, but “clearly things happen. Delay tactics can be employed.” Hoyer acknowledged that right now, Democrats don’t have the 218 votes they need to pass the bill. More»

(NEWSER) - The House passed the revised $700 billion buyout plan this afternoon, 263-171, raising hopes that the economy will be able to fend off a recession, reports the Washington Post. After 5 days of arm-twisting, 26 Republicans switched their no votes; a total of 91 joined 172 Democrats in backing the legislation today. Within minutes, President Bush said he'll sign it as soon as Congress gets it to him. More»

Efforts to sway votes move into overdrive as second effort looms

(NEWSER) - Leaders and lobbyists are scrambling to marshal support for the revamped bailout bill before it returns to the House at midday today, the Washington Post reports. Democratic and GOP chiefs believe they can sway enough votes to swing it—although only a few have switched so far. Some Republicans who backed it the first time around are considering nixing it this time, annoyed by the tacked-on special-interest tax breaks. More»

Discontent on both sides moved House to kill bailout

(NEWSER) - The efforts of Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner were not enough to quell a revolt within their parties that killed the financial bailout bill today. The bipartisan opposition to the bill reflected in the 228-205 vote—95 Democrats and 133 Republicans dissented—reflects liberal representatives’ unease with rescuing highly paid executives and the GOP’s displeasure with a decidedly non-free-market solution, the Washington Post reports. More»