Oregon Public Broadcasting


Northwesterners in Congress who are on the fence for the House health care vote are under increasing pressure from voters in – and out-of state.

Senator Ron Wyden was fond of saying last year ‘The health care cake has not yet baked’.  

Now, it’s time to make the donuts. 

Phone calls are flowing in for uncommitted reps like Oregon’s 5th district Rep Kurt Schrader, and southwest Washington’s Brian Baird. 

When the House passed its initial health care bill, Schrader was a yes vote, Baird voted no.



Since then, Schrader’s been flamed by Republicans for voting yes on a procedural matter. That Republican amendment would have forced Democrats to schedule a separate vote, but the House defeated it. Both Schrader and Baird went with the majority.

Those yes-votes cleared the way for a so-called “deem and pass” maneuver, that would spare them from having to cast an up-or-down vote on the Senate’s health care bill.



Neither Schrader nor Baird was available for comment, and neither has indicated which way they’d vote.

Earlier this week, Baird met with President Obama, who’s been trying to drum up new life for the reconciliation.