Crunch Time

" Rated debate underway this hour on the floor of the House of Representatives as the future of the nation's health care system hangs in the balance. Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowing the democratic measure. Will pass -- says it will she insists it will but there are some roadblocks ahead on issues from. Well abortion to illegal immigrants undecided democratic lawmakers facing a lot of -- right now. From party leaders constituents lobbyist Bob Beckel professor for advance political studies at George Washington university -- a veteran. Of -- bunch of campaigns dating back to Lincoln chip Saltzman a former campaign manager for Mike Huckabee. Joins us could see both. -- This -- passed in Lincoln's day but Bob how do you handicap this thing."

" Well I don't know you know we try to start getting in this legislation passes a civil war and end we've been working on a -- stop it. Hello it's it has been literally seventy years since we've got a chance to extend health insurance to the virtually every American and this time around once I was just over there what's that -- the issue of abortion is settled they -- your cabinet conference visions. Endorsed the the amendment. It will be part of that we will not lose pro choice voters -- a result. The given illegal a real issue is is a little bit a nerve -- frankly but I think -- work out. I suspect you've got to have a bill that will be passed tonight. And if you don't have a vote tonight means what other religion that all of those mobile and."

" ball gets in a -- but -- explain the immigration."

" Part of the bill. Well the -- it is if it doesn't know allow illegal immigrants to take advantage. The various. Avenues of Elliot health care in the bill admits that now is actually no. --"

" Point isn't it -- mean chip let me go to you know. -- I mean it isn't it is a -- and and that is the hole and forgive me for I mean if you're gonna cover illegal immigrants which amount to anywhere from. Twelve to fourteen -- million Americans what's the point of raising everybody's tax is. And yes I'm going a trillion dollar belt."

" Yeah I think that's the one and she didn't mention is that just the sheer cost and magnitude of the bill and far -- it for me to disagree with professional -- professor -- But the American people are still weigh in on this and they are bombarded congress with phone calls urging them not to vote for this. Speaker Pelosi probably got a large collection of left arms and right arm general office right now from twisting them off in my guess is. She'll get to that to 18 number about 2 o'clock this morning an impasse and in the dark -- night. But this is a bill that's gonna come back to haunt a lot of democratic congressman -- because I think the speakers putting them in barrels way. Because I think there's a chance the house may pass something and and the Senate never looks at it. Because the leader of the United States and and Harry Reid doesn't want anything to do with this right now because he's got a tough election himself --"

" Bomb or -- they -- a lot of pressure on the ship in the crossing okay. Here's here's here's here's subs not really into it Greg saying is that somehow this is automatically re trying to tell you read it reach up and upset but go ahead professor in web that lets you she catches not a population -- want people do wanna see healthcare reported secondly. The cost of health care in the next ten years without reform is going to be much bigger than one point two trillion dollars and Greg if your question. The fact that there's most of the people gonna be covered on this bill would not have insurance. Are people who are American citizens and they are gonna get images than -- they deserve and the numbers go into emergency rooms are going to be much much less."

" Right you know chip I wanna pick up on that debate in -- away. Arguably misses the point it is soon -- that doing nothing will cost nothing -- don't uninsured people. Impose an enormous financial burden and economic cost on Americans that is not being properly considered by you Republicans."

" Well absolutely it does in the sense that they use their primary care physician as -- through doctor which is expensive. For everybody but -- from a state like Tennessee where we've had an exercise and there's something called ten care. Where was almost a light version of what's going on -- the national capital where they had just my actual public option where people can choose to go on the public option if they choose. What happened is all the savings were front loaded. All the small businesses in the world who and eventually got their people off the private insurance went to the public option. All the sick people in the state of Tennessee were on the government program and it bankrupted the state of Tennessee like it's done in massive injuries and other states it's fiddled with this."

" You know -- rid of it believe it or not a lot of people go to school on some failed efforts by some states like yours. -- of the lessons fact of the matter is there's gotta be nationwide number one. The number of people going into these -- insurance exchange going to be much larger three you're not gonna be -- walk away from an insurance policy. And -- public option number for the public option is not tied to Medicare now it's gonna be indirect negotiation with providers stuff that's nothing -- all -- this you know -- talk about twelve years ago had that much in the state of Tennessee."

" It about broke the state bought this -- health -- is not for I want to ask you something about let's take the house floor full Charlie Rangel is there he is chairman of the house Ways and Means Committee. Charlie Rangel has been dodging on us. For the better part of six weeks now he will not talk to us we have invited him on -- each and every weekend to talk about why as the man who writes taxes for Americans. Has allegedly been dodging taxes well he just gave up -- He's four position. This Bob does that hurt. Democrats when he got a guy like that he was just on the floor he was arguing for this. And this is a guy who is under enormous. Suspicion and and I think he -- Democrats would many would agree not all but many would agree that. Pending the outcome of the investigation. And -- here's a plethora of evidence. That this guy should not be sitting at the Helm of a committee that directs me and you and everybody else how to pay your taxes."

" We're up for personal don't feel alone about not getting acceptances from Charlie Rangel was a lot of other news or -- and the and a fire Charlie Rangel -- and hours. His advisers I would tell not -- why with all due respect him. I would not -- he's a public represented -- be fair to always have been when I had him on dragging war if listen I think you're gonna find -- wants his health care bills done. There is gonna be some movement in the ethics committee. And I believe that you may see some changes but look the fact that he's just evidence out there this -- is still innocent until proven guilty and -- though but there's no grand jury -- yet you know what I expect."

" You know Bob who as a -- used to always tell -- innocent clients. Speak. There's no reason to hide I disagree -- lot of lawyers who say don't talk now I always said if you're absolutely innocent. Speak and and and say what it is you have not done. Why doesn't he do that after all he represents the people why does -- talk to the beat."

" Right now -- the -- of that is that's what you're now in the TV business tax advice. The the factor that is -- most overwhelming number of lawyers tell the vendors not to take the stand it's not unusual and it's just that your -- Not that they have got up maybe a lot of -- so more there are jaded but you're you're still waiting president."

" which is you know Bob exactly why I'm here -- there. I Bob Bob Beckel I didn't see it's it's also good to see it is thank you but -- good to see where we're gonna continue to watch what's happening around four announcement --"