But there could be a vote Saturday if they get over the abortion hurdle.

According to Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, he and other abortion opponents will be given a chance to insert tougher abortion restrictions into the legislation during debate on the House floor.

The issue is whether federal funds will pay for abortions.

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter said she expected the rule-setting guidelines for the healthcare debate would incorporate anti-abortion language proposed by Representative Brad Ellsworth, a moderate Democrat.

His amendment would prohibit the use of federal funds to cover abortions and also guarantee access to insurance plans that would agree to refrain from covering abortion.

But the anti-choice crowd says this isn’t good enough, as evidenced by a press release quoting Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

“We are very disappointed that someone who claims to support the protection of unborn children would offer language designed to ensure the government pays for elective abortions behind smoke and mirrors. However cleverly worded the proposal might be, Rep. Ellsworth’s plan would authorize a government run public option to fund elective abortion and subsidize private plans that cover elective abortion.

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The Speaker’s Lobby: The Great Schism of 2009

By: Chad Pergram, FOX News

06 November 2009

Perhaps it’s fitting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) co-hosted a luncheon at the Capitol this week to honor Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Bartholomew leads the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Roman Catholic Church during The Great Schism of 1054. It’s one of the greatest divides in religious history.

House Democrats want to debate and pass their massive health care reform bill this weekend. And the rifts between House Democrats are so deep that this could be called The Great Schism of 2009.

Republicans spent most of Thursday excoriating the health care bill on the West Front of the Capitol. At least they were discussing health care policy. That’s because Democrats were talking about everything but health care in an effort to lug the behemoth legislation across the finish line. The off-stage discussions focused on the fissures that plague both political parties: abortion and immigration. And that’s to say nothing of a little-known issue involving something called “black liquor.”

Let’s start with abortion.

More than 190 House Democrats are members of the “pro-choice” caucus. However, there are just enough conservative Democrats who oppose abortion to blow up the bill on the floor.

“We knew there would be a flashpoint,” said Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), who tried to bridge an impasse between pro-life and pro-choice Democrats. “(Abortion) would become a major detraction. We don’t want this bill clouded.”

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) is one of the chief architects of the bill. He insists that the legislation does not allow anyone to use federal dollars to pay for abortions. But many anti-abortion Democrats demanded even stronger language in exchange for their support on the bill. Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) propounded an idea that explicitly outlaws tax dollars from paying for abortions. Ellsworth also asked for guarantees that abortion opponents always have access to a pro-life health insurance plan. Ellsworth’s proposal also makes permanent the “Hyde Amendment.” The Hyde Amendment is a measure that bans the federal funding of abortions. But Congress must reauthorize it every year. Ellsworth wants the Hyde Amendment extended to the life of the health care bill.

But despite his quest, many pro-life groups lobbed epithets at Ellsworth and accused him of selling out just to help pass the health care bill.

“I know what’s in my heart. I know what’s in my head,” Ellsworth said. “And I think the Guy upstairs knows where I am.”

Then there was immigration.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) huddled at the White House mid-week to voice their concerns that the bill could have pernicious effects on illegal immigrants.

Again, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman argued that the package had firewalls to ensure that undocumented persons would have no access to subsidies to purchase health insurance. But Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) argued that illegal immigrants would still fall in the crosshairs. Gutierrez said that some low-income, undocumented workers would be in a bind. That’s because they would be unable to purchase health coverage and be ineligible for government assistance. So Gutierrez suggested that many illegal immigrants would wind up precisely where they go now for medical care: the emergency room.

“It costs the American taxpayers money!” thundered Gutierrez about his prediction. “What other knife do you want me to plunge into my heart?”

In the end, the CHC stood down after pleading with Democratic leaders to not tighten up provisions against illegal immigrants. CHC members were fine with refusing subsidies for coverage. But they breathed a temporary sigh of relief that the legislation would not deny undocumented persons access to the health care program even if they paid their own way.

“I think we’re all there,” said former CHC Chairman Joe Baca (D-CA). “We’ve come to a common ground.”

And then there was “black liquor.”

This is not a reference to Johnnie Walker scotch. Nor “Jagermeister,” as a colleague suggested.

At 10:28 pm on Tuesday night, House Democrats unveiled a 42-page “manager’s amendment.” That’s the final alteration lawmakers make to a bill before bringing it to the floor. Lawmakers devoted seven pages of the manager’s amendment to something called “Second Generation Biofuel Producer Credit.” Which involves “black liquor.”

Black liquor is a byproduct produced in making paper. Some paper plants use it as an alternative fuel.

The manager’s amendment strikes a biofuel tax credit used by pulp and paper firms. The government saves $24 billion by eliminating the credit. That’s desperately needed revenue to help offset the cost of the health plan.

Meantime, those involved in agriculture asked why the manager’s amendment went into exhaustive detail defining “qualified feedstock.”

For the record, the manager’s amendment designates “qualified feedstock” as “any lignocellulosic or hemicelluosic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis or any cultivated algae, cyanobacteria or lemna.”

All spelled out in a health care bill.

Meantime, there was grousing from Republicans that they didn’t know what was in the bill.

No Republican lawmakers were expected to vote for the package. But Republicans carped that there wasn’t enough time to read through the bill. Even though Democrats met a demand to unveil the 1,990-page legislation last week. That was ahead of a voluntary commitment Democrats made to present the legislation at least 72 hours before a debate.

In fact, it could be argued that lawmakers even got a “73^rd” hour to leaf through the legislation, since Democrats dropped the bill before clocks reverted to Standard Time after a summer of Daylight Saving Time last weekend.

Republicans contend the bill is “government-mandated health care.” Of course, some could say that “falling back” is part of a government-mandated time.

Congress passed the Standard Time Act in 1918. The law first established Daylight Saving Time. I’m told that in 1918 everyone was informed that they could choose the time they wanted it to be. But detractors remained unmoved. They warned that passing the Standard Time Act would put the U.S. on a “Canadian-style” time system controlled by the government.

On Friday afternoon, the Democratic leadership fished around for votes. Moderate Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) declared he would vote no. And Reps. John Adler (D-NJ) and Michael McMahon (D-NY) jumped ship as well. Both are first-term lawmakers who represent districts which swung from Republican to Democratic in 2008.

But it was elections that helped House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-NY) pocket a couple of new votes. On Tuesday, voters elected two Democrats to the House in special elections: Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY). Garamendi and Pelosi have known each other for decades. And in one of his first acts in Congress, Garamendi told reporters that he learned long ago never to count Pelosi out.

Garamendi said years ago Pelosi’s family was driving to a picnic at Garamendi’s home when their car missed a curve and flipped over. No one was hurt.

“She brushed her kids off, called for a new car and arrived about 45 minutes late,” Garamendi said. “This is one determined woman.” 

And House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-CT) was resolute that Pelosi would secure the votes.

“I feel very confident that we’re there and tomorrow evening, we’ll be celebrating a great victory,” said Larson.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) serves as special assistant to Pelosi. And he wasn’t as sure as Larson.

“We’re in shooting distance,” Van Hollen declared.

I pressed Van Hollen about whether Democrats were ready to bring the bill to the floor and try to gin up the necessary support during the vote.

“You don’t want to roll the dice on that,” Van Hollen said. “This is too important.”

As Friday afternoon dissolved into evening, the House Rules Committee met in a seemingly-interminable session.

The Rules panel serves as a gateway to the House floor. Almost every piece of legislation must first get a “rule” from the committee. The rule establishes parameters for how the House will handle a measure on the floor. If you don’t get a rule, you can’t debate the bill.

Members of the Rules Committee peppered the Democratic authors of the bill with questions in the cramped hearing room. Hours of this interrogation exasperated House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA).

“We’re thinking of renaming this committee Guantanamo,” Miller sighed at the five hour mark in the meeting.

“It’s worse than Guantanamo,” blurted Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA).

- Chad Pergram covers Congress for FOX News. He’s won an Edward R. Murrow Award and the Joan Barone Award for his reporting on Capitol Hill.

- The Speaker’s Lobby refers to a long, ornate hallway that runs behind the House chamber. Lawmakers, aides and journalists often confer there during votes.

Swift Boat enabler and Obama basher Jerome Corsi is portraying accused Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan as a transition team adviser to President Obama.

The Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University published a document May 19, entitled “Thinking Anew – Security Priorities for the Next Administration: Proceedings Report of the HSPI Presidential Transition Task Force, April 2008 – January 2009,” in which Hasan of the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine is listed on page 29 of the document as a Task Force Event Participant.

Corsi tries to make his case by saying Hasan “attended meetings” of the Homeland Security Policy Institute Presidential Transition Task Force.  And he raises a question as to “whether or not Hasan made comments from the audience that influenced the task force recommendations or not.”

In his World Net Daily article, Corsi claims that a new book claims, “Hasan is just the tip of a jihadist Fifth Column operating within the ranks of the U.S. military – which is too blinded by political correctness to see the threat.” And guess where you can buy this shocking book? Yes, World Net Daily.

A small amount of investigation reveals:

Significantly, Nidal was not the author of the document. He was not a member of the HSPI’s “Presidential Transition Task Force.” Nor was he a member of the HSPI’s “Task Force Staff.” He was not a member of the HSPI’s Steering Committee or a briefer to the task force.

Also, the activities of the HSPI here do not in anyway constitute official transition advice to the White House, despite the fact that a committee got named the “Presidential Transition Task Force” and the HSPI’s activities involved identifying homeland security priorities and offering advice.

Corsi admits that it’s a non-issue by writing:

While the GWU task force participants included several members of government, including representatives of the Department of Justice and the U.S Department of Homeland Security, there is no indication in the document that the group played any formal role in the official Obama transition, other than to serve in a university-based advisory capacity.

And, yet, this story is hyped with the headline:  

Shooter advised Obama transition
Fort Hood triggerman aided team on Homeland Security task force.

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Twoppics, the stories behind the hottest topics on Twitter.

Download audio file (TWOPPICS_11-06-2009.mp3)

Sadly, the hot twoppic of the moment is about gun violence. Yesterday there was the massacre at Fort Hood, in Texas.  Then today, there was a shooting in an office building in Orlando, Fl, where at least 1 person has died and others were wounded. The question on most people’s minds is … why? @jimmydids tweets The land of the free where anyone can own a gun has 2 mass shootings in 2 days. Time for change? #Orlando #fort hood @Trina_Chavez5 tweets Are people going CRAZY or what? Now theres a shooting in Orlando?? We need to PRAY!!!!!!!

Hot twoppic of the day is the film Precious, which opens tonight. The Grand Jury winner at the Sundance film festival, Oscar buzz has been building for this movie for weeks. The film follows an obese Africa-American teenager as she endures many forms of abuse. Though Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are executive producers, the film is far from a feel-good experience. But critics call it a must-see. Questo of the band The Roots @questlove tweets if you see nothing else. GO SEEPRECIOUS. Monique getting that Oscar is w/o QUESTION. see this film. it will FLOOR you.

The hot twoppic of the week belongs to the New York Yankees. The baseball champs celebrated in Manhattan with their victory parade, and Twitter was all over it, tweeting #yankeesparadeonfox and online cheering for their favorite players, especially A-Rod.

This is @TheKateMalloy and those are your hot @Twoppics on FOX News Radio.

The House Rules Committee today, will set the stage for this weekend’s House healthcare reform debate. FOX News Radio’s Mike Majchrowitz reports:

Download audio file (10822_20091106.mp3)

Colonel Terry Lee, who worked at Fort Hood with Major Nidal Malik Hasan, spoke with Fox News’s Shepard Smith. He says Hasan believed we shouldn’t be in Iraq, and became increasingly agitated about our involvement there.  Lee says Hasan made comments about how Muslims needed to stand up to the aggressor, and seemed almost happy when there was a shooting at a recruiting office in Little Rock that resulted in one death and one injury.  Lee says Hasan was trying to get his deployment to Iraq canceled.

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Mass shooting at Ft. Hood military post in Texas has left at least 7 dead and 20 wounded and one suspected gunman is on the loose, officials told Fox News.

Download audio file (10588_20091105.mp3)

Dangerous criminals should NEVER be released into society. EVER.

But our system does it all the time. It’s the humane thing to do, I guess, to let barbaric alleged humans back into the general population to continue preying on the innocent.

We’d be so much safer, overnight, if the people we KNEW were dangerous threats were kept away from the rest of us.

I grew up in San Francisco, across the Bay from where convicted molester and rapist Phillip Garrido held young Jaycee Dugard for EIGHTEEN YEARS.

We have discussed this case on my radio show before.

But now we have further proof that the system clearly failed on many fronts, according to a report released this week from the inspector general’s office.

Corrections officials blew it, frankly. They didn’t keep the proper tabs that they should have on Garrido. They missed, again and again, opportunities to discover the kidnapped, molested, and raped Jaycee.

Proper searches never took place. Information that could have led to Jaycee’s discovery was never followed up on. The report also found something that I have ALWAYS known was the truth–that the state’s GPS tracking system for convicted offenders offers the public a false sense of security.

Officials even blew an opportunity to investigate why a 12-year-old girl was present in the home of convicted child rapist during one visit.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS??

But the real fault falls on the lap of a system that let Garrido out of prison in the FIRST PLACE after kidnapping and raping a woman in 1977.

The right thing to have done? Lock the monster up forever and ever.

But instead he was let out.

Jaycee Dugard’s life was altered horribly because of that disastrous decision. Garrido fathered two children with Jaycee during her captivity.

Those three innocent girls were robbed of all innocence and happiness.

Those are scars that a report, unfortunately, can never appropriately do justice to.

Question is: Will we FINALLY learn anything from reports like this? There are currently more than 6,000 paroled sex offenders in the state of California alone.

Will one of them be the next Garrido? How many more victims will fall prey to these criminals because of a failed system?

The people who let the barbarians out should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, in my opinion.

But we have a system that protects the bad guys more than the innocent children.

It’s the sad, damned truth.

Twoppics, the stories behind the hottest topics on Twitter.

Download audio file (TWOPPICS_11-05-2009.mp3)

The New York Yankees are the hot twoppic of the moment, after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies last night to take back the title of  World Series Champs. One trending topic in honor of the victory is the message KEEP THE WAVE GOING, referring, of course, to the baseball stadium wave.

The hot twoppic of the day goes to Google Dashboard, which launched today, and begs the question: how much do you know about your data on the web? Dashboard lets users view all data associated with Google products. Be warned: you will get a sobering look at just how much companies like Google know about you. The good news? You can control it.  Dashboard allows you to easily view and change your privacy settings.  So that 4am Google search for a 24-hour Krispy Kreme can be your little secret.

Your hot twoppic of the week is Rihanna. The young pop star’s first interview since her well-publicized beating by then-boyfriend Chris Brown aired this morning on Good Morning America. She candidly discussed her encounter with domestic violence, saying that she decided to ended her relationship when she realized the message going back would send to her young fans.

@TheAubreyShow tweets i’m so proud of Rihanna. i think if you’re in an abusive relationship, no matter how cute or how fine he is, find the strenght and LEAVE

This is @TheKateMalloy and those are your hot @Twoppics on FOX News Radio.

Choosing between Cong. Barney Frank’s let-the-Federal-Reserve regulate all banks legislation and Sen. Chris Dodd’s let’s-establish-a-new-regulator legislation is really a pick-your-poison choice. Both proposals presume that the free market should not be free, both presume that bureaucrats and politicians should supersede the free choices of consumers and investors, and neither proposal finds any basis in the Constitution. The Frank proposal puts most regulatory power into the hands of the super-secretive Fed, whose ways are essentially unknown and unknowable, while the Dodd proposal puts all regulatory power into the hands of a new bureaucracy. The Dodd proposal (a copy of which has not yet been released) purports to strip the Federal Reserve of some regulatory authority that it already has. If this were to pass, it would be the first time since 1913, when the Monster from Jekyll Island was born, that the government has actually taken power away from it.

Freedomworks, the Dick Armey-led group, in conjunction with South Florida Tea party, has launched the unfortunately-named dontkillgrandma.com, perpetuating the myth that Obama and Democrats want to do in our elderly loved ones. Comments on the site show a series of posts by Tenthers, anti-reformers, railers against a government takeover of health care, and other misstatements about just what is being proposed.

Is this the future of the GOP?

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Using the same Capitol steps House Democrats used to unveil their healthcare reform bill, Republicans plan to launch a wave of public opposition today. FOX News Radio’s Mike Majchrowitz reports:

Download audio file (09457_20091105.mp3)

The remains of eleven African-American women have been found in, and around the home of a Cleveland sex offender. FOX News Radio’s Jennifer Keiper reports:

Download audio file (09569_20091105.mp3)

Twoppics, the stories behind the hottest topics on Twitter.

Download audio file (TWOPPICS_11-04-2009.mp3)

It’s rapper and Bad Boy Entertainment mogul P. Diddy’s 40th birthday. As a joke, famous personality and New York party promoter Chris Foxx, @foxxfiles tweeted TRENDING TOPIC TIME TWITTER!!!!!! In honor of Diddy’s birthday should we do #BlameDiddy or #StillsignedtoBadBoy . #BlameDiddy, caught on with fans tweeting jokes blaming Diddy for just about everything: from global warming to fashion choices. Fans tweeted it enough to make  it your hot twoppic of the moment.

Your hot twoppic of the day is the election results. Tuesday at the polls, the GOP scored big, winning the Virginia and New Jersey Governors’ races. But it is another election headline that set twitter off — Maine voters dealt a devastating blow to the gay rights movement, repealing a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed.

@fairlight777 tweets My heart goes out to everyone in #Maine. We all deserve #equality. Our families are real. While @antisocialangel tweets Dear Maine, I could be mad that you banned gay marriage but I won’t. I will applaud you for the vote being so close.

Your hot twoppic of the week is Sesame Street – like P. Diddy, Big Bird and pals are gearing up to turn the big 4-0. November 10^th will be the official 40^th Anniversary of the show. Today the Google homepage pays homage, putting everyone’s favorite yellow feathered friend on the Google Doodle. Clicking on the picture takes you to a variety of links regarding the show’s anniversary.

This is @TheKateMalloy, and those are your hot @Twoppics, on FOX News Radio.

Nov. 4, 2009, marks the 30th anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, when militant Iranian students took 66 Americans hostage and began a 444-day standoff with the West. Fifty-two Americans were kept in captivity for nearly 15 months by forces loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established an Islamic theocracy in 1979, months before the storming of the embassy.

Download audio file (08000_20091104.mp3)