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November 9, 2009 —

Southern Reps play contrarian on health care vote

More than half the Democrats and 100 percent of the Republicans -- that's a grand total of one -- who voted against their party in Saturday night's landmark House vote on the health care reform bill were Southerners. US Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.), struggling to hang on to his normally very Democratic New Orleans seat, provided the only GOP vote cast for the legislation, while 22 of the 39 Democratic votes against it came from Southerners. Of particular note, the only African-American Democrat to vote against the bill was Artur Davis of Alabama, looking ahead to his statewide race for governor next year.

North Carolina: Polls shows health care divisions

A survey taken by the Elon University Poll Oct. 26-29 found that Tar Heel residents are significantly affected by the economic recession, favor a health care bill even if it includes the public option, but are split down the middle on a program that would cover all Americans.

On the economy, 47 percent have lost money in the stock market, 41 percent have seen the value of their homes declines, 38 percent have seen the value of their retirement plan decline by 25 percent or more, and 20 percent have lost a job. On health care legislation, 54 percent support a plan that would include a public option, i.e., a government-run insurance company to compete with private insurers. But North Carolinians were split down the middle over a health insurance program where the federal government pays most medical and hospital costs for all citizens: 47 percent for, 47 percent against.

The gloomy economy, combined with a contentious national political environment, have left most Tar Heel residents with a negative view of their elected officials. In the Elon University Poll, only 19 percent believed that US Sen. Richard Burr (R) deserves re-election while 42 percent believe it’s time to give a new person a chance. Burr, who comes up for re-election next year, has an approval of 37 percent to 22 percent disapproval.

Other officials fare only slightly better. US Sen. Kay Hagan (D), elected in a close election last year, got the approval of 35 percent of respondents, to 35 percent disapprove, and Gov. Beverly Perdue (D), also elected last year, was approved by 36 percent and disapproved by a major 47 percent . President Obama fared somewhat better, with 53 percent approving his performance in office to 44 percent who disapprove.

Oklahoma: Fallin engaged

Everything’s coming up roses for Oklahoma Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK). Not only is she ahead in the polls in her race for governor and has raised the most money for campaign war chest, but Fallin has announced her engagement to be married, to Wade Christensen, an attorney in Edmond, Oklahoma. No wedding date has been announced.

In other news, in 3^rd Quarter financial reports for the 2010 governor’s race, Fallin raised $418,000, leaving her with $439,000 on hand; her GOP primary foe state Sen. Randy Brogdan raised $55,000, with $59,000 on hand. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins raised $405,000; her cash-on-hand was unavailable; and Attorney General Drew Edmondson raised $365,000, leaving him with the largest war chest, $771,000. A June survey taken for Fallin showed she was better known and more liked than Brogdan. The same poll showed her leading Edmondson 53 percent to 37 percent and leading Askins 54 percent to 35 percent .

Tennessee: Prayer rules

At their recent debate, both Democratic and Republican candidates for governor found ways to support prayer in the schools without actually supporting a change in the law. According to the Tennessee Journal, US Rep. Zach Wamp (R) said when he’s asked about school prayer, he answers, “Just do it.” And House Majority Leader Kim McMillan (D) said, “As long as there are tests in school, there will be prayer in schools.”

Florida: Grayson apologizes, cries

Freshman US Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has apologized after calling an aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke a “K Street whore,” K Street being short-hand for Washington’s lobbyists, many of whom have an office on K Street. This comes after Grayson said the GOP healthcare plan was “don’t get sick, and if you do, die quickly,” and referred to Republicans who oppose Obama’s healthcare plan as “knuckle-dragging Neanderthals” -- for which he did not apologize.

Since then, Grayson broke down and cried on the House floor while delivering a speech in which he read letters from people whose loved ones died because they had no health insurance. While not against House rules, crying on the floor is unusual enough to make the news in Roll Call.