Well, the Democrat’s health care bill passed.

Roll Call as soon as I get it…if Republicans get their way…

Chanting “Yes we can!”

219-210

I’m willing to bet that the Stupak group was the deciding factor.

It seems that Senate Republicans have found a provision in the current health care bill and in the Congressional Budget Act that makes the current bill ineligible for the reconciliation procedure.

Drudge initially reported:

FLASH: Senate Republicans found a provision in the new House health care bill that likely makes it ineligible for expedited ‘reconciliation’ procedures in the Senate. Dems refused to meet with GOP and Parliamentarian…. Developing….

He then linked here to a document released by Senate Republicans regarding the issue.

It seems that because there is a change to the Social Security Act–under certain legal restrictions–the use of reconciliation can not be used.

What it looks like is that Republicans have called out Democrats regarding the issue, but have been met with silence.

If the link is still dead, here is the text:

Breaking: “Fix” Bill May Not Advance In Senate

Senate Democrats Refuse Bi-partisan Meeting With Parliamentarian Until After House Votes

WASHINGTON DC – Senate Democrats have balked at a bi-partisan meeting with the Senate Parliamentarian to discuss a rule violation that could doom the entire House reconciliation proposal.

DON STEWART, McCONNELL SPOKESMAN: “Republicans have been trying to set up a meeting with Senate Democrats since yesterday to discuss this fatal point of order but have been met with nothing but silence. We suspect Democrats are slow walking us so as to have the House vote first. Since Senate Democrats refuse to meet with us and the Parliamentarian, we’ve informed our colleagues in the House that we believe the bill they’re now considering violates the clear language of Section 310g of the Congressional Budget Act, and the entire reconciliation bill is subject to a point of order and rejection in the Senate should it pass the House.”

BACKGROUND

DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP RELEASE: “The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the health care legislation shows an increase in Social Security revenues… CBO projects that the resulting increase in wages will generate $29 billion in additional FICA contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund.” (“Health Care Reform Update,” Office of Rep. Steny Hoyer, 3/21/10)

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT: “LIMITATION ON CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution reported pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under section 301 or 304, or a joint resolution pursuant to section 258C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.” (Congressional Budget Act Of 1974, Sec. 310g, P. 31)

UPDATE:  AllahPundit reports:

“The point of this move, of course, isn’t actually to derail the reconciliation bill in the Senate, it’s to frighten House Dems who are voting tonight that they might end up with Reid’s bill without a fix and therefore they should rethink their vote while they still have time.”

The Politico has obtained a memo discussing the Democrats’ plan to introduce legislation later this year–at a $371 Billion price tag–to repeal annual Medicare payment cuts to doctors.

The reason this was left out of the current bill is simple…if it were in this bill, they couldn’t cite it’s deficit neutral nature.

“Most health staff are already aware that our health proposal does not contain a ‘doc fix.’ … The inclusion of a full SGR repeal would undermine reform’s budget neutrality. So again, do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative. Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”

“As most health staff knows, leadership and the White House are working with the AMA to rally physicians for a full SGR repeal later this spring. However, both health and communications staff should understand we do not want that policy discussion discussed at this time, lest (it) complicate the last critical push to pass health reform.”

Developing…

Basically this memo shows that the CBO scores are bunk because the Dems’ intention is to add $371 billion…

Click Here to read the memo.

Read–Politico

Read–Hot Air

UPDATE:  The CBO has stated that the Medicare fix included in previous bills, and that the Democrats have conspired to add later this year, will push it into the red.

The bill would no longer be deficit neutral.

It would be $59 billion in the hole.

Read

(Picture from BigGovernment.com)

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office has executed a search warrant at ACORN’s office on Canal Street in New Orleans.

BigGovernment reports…

Read

Developing…

UPDATE:  Paper records, computers, and “other electronic items” are being seized.

Read–NOLA

MSNBC is reporting that 7 people are dead and 12 injured after a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.

Reports are saying one gunman is in custody and one remains on the loose.

Check back for updates…

Developing…

Refresh for updates…

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UPDATE: The shooting occurred at the Soldier Readiness building…
View Larger Map

Military Police have locked down the base.

Schools in the area are also on lockdown.

The shooting happened in the Soldier Readiness Center.

Read–My Fox DFW

FoxNews is reporting that the FBI is en route and that the number of victims is unclear.

FoxNews is interviewing Hillary Shine–Director of Public Information for Killeen TX–and she said that at a third gunman just began firing in a second location.

FoxNews.com is reporting that “The men were reportedly dressed in Army fatigues, but military officials couldn’t confirm that they were Army personnel.”

Read

Chuck Todd tweeted that Robert Gibbs said the President has been briefed.

KCEN is reporting that a policeman is among those who were shot.

Read

UPDATE: FoxNews is reporting that there are 20 wounded.

MSNBC is reporting that one of the locations of the shooting is at the 42006 building on Fort Hood.

The shooting could have been at a graduation ceremony. MSNBC reports:

“Greg Schannep, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Carter, told the Austin American-Statesman that he was on the Army post to attend a graduation service. He said that as he neared the entrance of a building where the service was being held, a soldier with blood on his uniform ran past him and said a man was shooting.”

FoxNews is reporting that the FBI has said that their number one priority is that no one else is killed.

“to make sure there is no further killing.”

Read

UPDATE: FoxNews: Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson says one of the shooters is injured and in custody.

CNN is reporting:

“At least one person is “neutralized” in connection with the incident, and a second is “cornered,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore told CNN, citing “unofficial, unconfirmed reports” from two sources.”

I’m going to assume “neutralized” means wounded…

Local Newspaper Austin Statesman has set up a twitter account for updates…

They recently tweeted:

RT (from Fort Hood resident) @irish_beauty83: locked in my post housing. scared. dont know where the shooters are

McClatchy is reporting:

“Details of the events were sketchy, but officials said the shooting involved two men with M-16 rifles and began about 1:30 p.m. Central time at Howze Theater on the base, then moved to the sports complex, where the graduation ceremony was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. It was not immediately clear who the ceremony was honoring.”

Is anyone else curious why the FBI is getting involved? UPDATE:  Here’s why…

Chuck Todd is reporting:

TX Sen. Hutchison on #MSNBC right now, confirms there were TWO shooters, not three. Also says this was @ processing center.

Matt Drudge is reporting that 4 SWAT officers are injured.

MSNBC reports:

“The shooting happened “near the soldier readiness processing center, where soldiers cycle through as they prepare to deploy,” according to Sgt. Major Jamie Posten from the Fort Hood public affairs office.

He said this is where the soldiers go, up to 60 days before deployment, to begin the process of vaccinations and other preparation.”

MSNBC is reporting that all of the wounded are military personnel.

Read

AP confirms: 1 in custody.

Dave Miller from Killeen Daily Herald is reporting on FoxNews that the man in custody is around 40 years old.

Read

UPDATE: Drudge is reporting that 2 are in custody…

CNN is reporting that the death toll is 9.

MSNBC is reporting that 2 suspects are in custody.

Read

Chuck Todd:

“More from NBC’s Pete Williams: US official says early reports are the man in custody is in the military, late 30s, with officer rank.”

FoxNews TV is reporting 27 dead.

UPDATE: Army: Shooter dead. Was soldier. Two more soldiers in custody.

UPDATE: ABC:

The suspected gunman was identified by ABC News as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.

Read

I don’t want to make any prejudgements, but this is sounding like Fort Dix…

UPDATE:  FoxNews is reporting that Hasan is still alive.

UPDATE:

12 people killed, 31 injured.

The two others who were apprehended have been released.  FoxNews says it is believed that this was the work of a lone gunman: Major Malik Nadal Hasan who is now in custody.

The AP has released a statement saying that Obama “Hope” artist Shepard Fairey admitted to the AP that he destroyed and fabricated evidence “in an effort to bolster his fair use case and cover up his previous lies and omissions.”

Also, Shep’s lawyer “informed the AP that they intended to seek the Court’s permission to withdraw as counsel for Fairey and his related entities.”

Developing…

Read

Check out the full Press Release and updates after the jump…INCLUDING FAIREY’S RESPONSE!

Continue Reading

This is a strange story, folks.

Apparently, A six year old boy climbed into a large helium balloon craft and took off.

For over two hours, the craft floated over Colorado–near Denver.

The balloon slowly lost its helium and crashed in a field.

No boy.

KMGH and CNN are reporting that no one was inside the craft.

Developing…

Read–CNN

UPDATE:  CNN is reporting that officials are concerned that the child may have fallen out of the craft.

According to 9News–an NBC affiliate–says that sheriffs are sure the boy was inside at one point.

Read

It is reported that the child’s brother saw him get into the craft before it floated away…the rest of the family was inside their house.

Hot Air is reporting that the child–if he fell out–must have fallen out near the home–before the news coverage began.

Read

Neil Cavuto is reporting that his producer placed a call to the family’s spokesperson and asked if they knew where the boy is.  ”You no more than I do,” the spokesperson said.

Hot Air reports:

Commenters are speculating that that maybe the kid accidentally untied the balloon and ran away for fear of being punished, but if so, then his brother’s covering for him for an awfully long time amid a lot of police and parental pressure.

Also, The Huffington Post is reporting that this family was on the television show “Wife Swap.”

Read

Update:  This is an International story…

The Guardian has picked up the story.

Read

UPDATE:  There is a report on the twittersphere that the Sheriffs are now saying that they don’t think the boy was ever on the craft…

@justkarl: Radio: Sheriff says they now “believe” #balloonboy was never in the basket, are searching near home.

@calebhowe: Neighbor says brothers were on the roof “with a camera” when the balloon launched.

UPDATE:  October 15, 2009:

Just got back from work (6:20 PM) and found out the boy was found in his attic safe.

Wolf Blitzer asked Falcom Heene why he hid and Falcon responded, “We did this for the show.”

And here is Blitzer asking for clarification.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says that Iran has “sufficient information” to build an atomic bomb and is currently working on a delivery system…

Developing…

Read–AP

UPDATE:  News comes hours after President Barack Obama announced a major shift in missile shield policy.

Joe Biden had this to say earlier about the Iranian threat: “”I think we are fully capable and secure dealing with any present or future potential Iranian threat.”

He continued,

“The whole purpose of this exercise we are undertaking is to diminish the prospect of the Iranians destabilizing that region in the world. I am less concerned — much less concerned — about the Iranian potential. They have no potential at this moment, they have no capacity to launch a missile at the United States of America.”

Umm…Hello?!

Today at the daily White House presser, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs actually uttered the phrase ‘war on terror.’

Contrast that against previous statements by the Obama Administration that the ‘war on terrorism’ is over. I suppose ‘Overseas Contingency Operation’ didn’t roll off the tongue quite as nicely as they had hoped…

VIDEO – Real Clear Politics

MEDIA CENTRE — Harrington Report’s Man-Caused Preparedness pamphlet

Edward Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts, has died.

Camelot has ended.

Read

UPDATE: MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said Camelot is not over and that Barack Obama is the youngest Kennedy brother… Give me a break..

I will not speak ill of Kennedy today.