Crunch Time

" 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 she 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 pressure right now. From party leaders constituents lobbyists Bob Beckel professor for advance political studies at George Washington university and a veteran. Of a bunch of campaigns dating back to Lincoln chip Saltzman a former campaign manager for Mike Huckabee. Joins us could see both. -- This what -- passed in Lincoln's statement Bob how do you handicap this thing."

" Well I don't know we know we try to start getting in this legislation passes a civil war and end we've been working on a nonstop -- Hello it's it has been literally seven years since we've got a chance to extend health insurance to the virtually every American and this time around and once I was just over there once that that the issue abortion is settled -- victor -- conference visions. Endorsed. The amendment. It will be part of that we will not lose pro choice voters -- result. The -- illegal -- real issue is is a little bit a nerve -- frankly but I think got to 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 votes won't be -- and."

" forget to get its act but Bob explain the immigration."

" Part of the bill. Well the harder it is easy it doesn't know allow illegal immigrants to take advantage of the various. Avenues available to get health care in the bill admits that now is actually know. Now they still they still -- they'll go to -- merger would do in Iraq we don't leave people sitting on the sidewalk. That's still gonna happen but I -- yes."

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

" Yeah I think that's the one she didn't mention is that just the sheer cost and magnitude of the bill and far -- it for -- to disagree with professional -- professor Beckel. But the American people are still weighing 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 arm and right arm general office right now from twisting them off in my guess is. She'll get to that 2:18 number about 2 o'clock this morning an impasse 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 put 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 Harry Reid doesn't want anything to do with this right now because he's got a tough election and --"

" Bond and I think we don't know a lot of pressure on the ship and crossing okay. Here here here here is -- I'm really into -- saying is that somehow this is automatically re trying to tell you read it reach up and upset the go ahead professor you have that lets you usually catches not a popular she doesn't want people do want to see health care -- and 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 -- if your question. The fact that matters most of the people going to be covered on this bill does not have insurance. Are people who are American citizens and they are gonna get images than it they deserve and the numbers go into emergency rooms are going to be much much --"

" Right you know chip I wanna pick up on that debate in in a way. Arguably misses the point it assumes that doing nothing will cost nothing Ed 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 used their primary care physician as -- through doctor which is expensive. For everybody but we have from a state like Tennessee where we've had an exercise in this something called ten care. Where was almost a light version of what's going on on the national capital where they had just my full 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. Eventually got there -- 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 Massachusetts. And other states it's fiddled with this."

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

" It about broke the state bought this fund 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 knives. 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 his. He's four position. This Bob does that hurt. Democrats when he got a guy like daddy was just on the floor he was arguing for this. And this is a guy who is under enormous. Suspicion and and I think even Democrats would that many would agree not all but many would agree that. Pending the outcome of the investigation. And that 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."

" From personal don't feel alone about not getting acceptances from Charlie Rangel -- a lot of other news or that they haven't. FR Charlie Rangel lawyer and hours. His advisers I would tell not -- why with all due respect him. I would not -- he's a public representative Bob be fair to always have been when Adam Andrei war if listen I think you've got to find that once his health care bills done. There is gonna be some movement in the at these committee. And I believe it did you may see some changes but look the fact that he's just evidence out there this man is still innocent until proven guilty and -- though it looked as though grand jury that sentenced. -- yet you know what I expect."

" You know Bob who act as a lower east always tell might innocent clients. Speak. There's no reason to hide I disagree in a 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 he talked to beat."

" Right now out of the edge of that is that what you're now in the TV business. The the fact matters most overwhelming number of lawyers tell the vendors not to take the stand it's not unusual and it's just that your point. Not that they have got up maybe a lot of -- of so more barricaded but here it is still waiting president."

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