By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire and Tim Holden voted against the Democratic health care bill Saturday night, the only Pennsylvania Democrats in Congress to oppose the party’s major policy initiative.

Their votes are likely meant to placate the moderate district each represents and deter any challenger in next year’s election.

Holden, the longtime “Blue Dog” Democrat who represents the moderate 17th Congressional District, was one of 39 Democrats to vote against the health care bill.

He does not yet face an opponent next November.

Altmire, who represents the 4th Congressional District, signaled in recent weeks he would oppose the bill. Doing so will likely help retain his moderate image, which might be essential for re-election next year when he faces Allegheny County attorney Keith Rothfus and possibly former U.S. attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, who is said to be considering a campaign.

The 4th Congressional District voted 55 percent in favor of GOP Presidential candidate John McCain last year.

Other Democrats in moderate districts did support the bill, most notably Erie-area Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. The freshman legislator is a prime target next year, and Republicans will say Saturday’s vote makes her only more vulnerable.

Dahlkemper, however, was also one of seven Pennsylvania Democrats to vote for an amendment that would continue to ban federal funds from being used for abortions.  The bill, offered by U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), was approved with help from Altmire, Holden, U.S. Reps. John Murtha, Mike Doyle, Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney, in addition to Dahlkemper.

The only Pennsylvania Democrats to oppose the amendment came from those in the the more socially liberal southeast.

Below is a complete roll call of the delegation’s health care bill, which Congress approved 220-215. The Pennsylvania delegation total was 10-9 in favor.

“Yes” votes
U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3)
U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-12)
U.S. Rep. Bob Doyle (D-14)
U.S. Rep. Chris Carney (D-10)
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorkski (D-11)
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-8)
U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13)
U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D-1)
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-2)
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-7)

“No” votes
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-18)
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-9)
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-5)
U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-6)
U.S. Rep. Todd Platts (R-19)
U.S. Rep. Tim Holden (D-17)
U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16)
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-15)
U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-4)

Tags: Altmire, Holden

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 10:52 pm and is filed under Front Page Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.