Dems schedule a revote for tomorrow. Blunt requests a delay — say, until California stops burning…
The text of a letter to Speaker Pelosi:
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
As members of Congress representing many of the areas that have been devastated by fire in the past week, we want to thank you for your words of support during your floor speech Tuesday. We appreciate you leading our colleagues in putting aside partisan differences and coming together in the wake of these disasters.
We would like to request your further cooperation in helping us deal with these fires, which have destroyed over 1,500 homes and disrupted the lives of nearly all Californians from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border.
It has come to our attention that House leadership is contemplating bringing up the Children’s Health Care Plan for another vote tomorrow. Unfortunately, many of us are in California now trying to help our constituents and would be unable to take part in such a vote. We ask you to please reconsider any such scheduling decision. Members should not have to choose between making an important vote in Washington or being in California helping our constituents to get the aid they need to rebuild their homes and their lives.
There is no question that children’s health care is one of the most important issues facing the Congress at this time, and we would urge you to consider that ALL members should have a chance to cast a vote when one is taken. As a fellow Californian, we know you share our priority of serving our constituents in our home districts. Knowing that, we ask you to put off such important votes until we can return and take part.
Sincerely,
Jerry Lewis Darrell Issa
Gary Miller Duncan Hunter
Ken Calvert Brian Bilbray
David Dreier Mary Bono
John Campbell Howard P. “Buck” McKeon
Elton Gallegly Dana Rohrabacher
Ed Royce