In the Really Good News file for today:
The House just approved Rep. Mike Pence’s amendment to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, checking off a hot-button social issue even as it set up a bigger showdown over defunding the health care law.
The vote was 240-185 with 11 Democrats voting for the amendment, and seven Republicans voting against. One member voted present. A group of Republicans on the floor applauded when the vote hit 218.
And…
The House voted to defund President Obama’s health care overhaul on Friday during a sustained burst of floor activity on a temporary spending bill.
The House passed the health care measure, 239-187, as an amendment to a bill that would keep the government lights on through the end of the fiscal year but also impose deep cuts on domestic programs…
So, some clear advances to counterbalance the failure Friday to add an additional $22 billion in cuts to this year’s budget. We can’t get too upset if the House GOP flubs it from time to time – though, of course, we must keep extreme pressure up on them to do the right thing. Better if we can leap ahead ten steps at a time, but if we make two steps forward and one step back then we’re still one step ahead.
