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House Prepare Votes on Health Care Reform; Rep. Matt Heinz, Dr. Brian Hill Debate Health Care Reform; Democrats, Republicans Fight Over Health Care Reform

Aired March 20, 2010 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Don Lemon here. We're following it all.

You know, the nation's attention on Washington right now. And we all know why. We're talking about health care reform. We have got every bit of it covered for you. And many say Mr. Obama's presidency riding on this. That is one reason our Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry is live at the White House for us. Without a doubt there say lot of arm twisting, a lot of horse trading and cajoling going on Capitol Hill. And that's where we find our Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash. She's going to take us behind the scene. And how will this play in Peoria, or Madison or the rest of America?

Our senior political editor, Mark Preston, is standing by in our Washington Bureau. So, before we talk to our players, here is what most people want to know. Let's get to you the very latest on the vote count. Remember, democrats need 216 votes to pass the reform bill. And it is going to really come down to the wire. Republicans need 38 democrats to cross the aisle. And vote with them to kill the bill. So far, this according to cnn's reporting, 30 have said they'll do that, they'll do that. So, if eight more dems cross the aisle, the bill will fail.

Let's bring in now Dana Bash and Ed Henry. There you see them standing there, they have been busy all day. You're guys going to be busy later on. And I know you have to go to the Gridiron dinner, you're all over the place. So, listen, I want to talk to you first, Ed. You know, the president came out just a short time ago, it almost sounded in some ways like a victory speech, but got to be very careful. Let's listen to the president and then we'll talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Don't do it for me. Don't do it for the Democratic Party. Do it for American people. They're the ones who are looking for action right now.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So, listen, we just said 38-30. That number just changed. And we're talking about this in the break. That just changed before the president spoke. Did this help at all? Is it too soon or do you think that maybe the person who, you know, came over to the yes side was wavering anyway?

ED HENRY, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's hard to tell specific person because as you say, this is fast and furious and they have been reporting their yeses and noes coming up practically every few minutes. But I think it was very clear that this was a powerful closing argument. I think even the president's republican critics would acknowledge that after some months of maybe stumbling along and not really finding his voice on this, he really pulled it all together here at the end. And I was struck by a number of things. First of all, the fact that he, you're right, he doesn't want to have a victory dance but by the same token for the first time, I heard this no longer being a hypothetical.

I heard, you know, essentially, we're going to make history in the next 24 hours when I sign this bill. He's now talking like it is going to be a done deal. And secondly, I was struck by the fact that how quickly he's now trying to essentially write the campaign playbook for his democratic colleagues who are nervous about those midterms about if they vote yes, how are they going to sell this, by basically trying to pivot from the left to the center. And saying very directly and aggressively, I've heard all these attacks about government takeovers and liberalism, but this is a middle of the road bill, still going to be a tough sale to these Tea Party activists and others, but this is his case -- Don.

LEMON: OK. We're going to break down in a bit. But listen, I want to stay on the president real quickly here to talk about what he just said a moment ago. The president obviously had a big trip planned, Ed, he's not going to take that trip now. And he's out today as if he's on a campaign stomp really selling this to the American people. People have said his credibility is riding on that. I don't know if that's true. But if you look at what's happening now, him coming out today, you standing there today at the White House on the front lawn, it may come down to that, that may be true.

HENRY: There is no doubt. And when the president was casting this in historical terms and quoting Abraham Lincoln about I'm not bound to win, but I'm bound to be true, casting it in those term and being also, I should note, very aggressive about saying, if you get this done, this will be the biggest domestic achievement since Medicare, comparing himself essentially to Lyndon Johnson and praising Speaker Pelosi in these legislative leaders as they struggle to finish this. He is being direct and bold about selling this and selling it hard, because, yes, the stakes are so enormous. If it goes down, his presidency is going to be in desperate shape and that's why he can see the finish line. They're not quite there yet, but he can finally see the finish line and he's selling this hard -- Don.

LEMON: OK. Our Dana Bash is there as well. Dana, I want to talk to you. And I won't pretend to know everything. You guys were the experts, so just transparency here. We're just getting the stuff in from the president because just moments ago, the president came out and said this, when is the last time you saw him doing this on a weekend? And also not going on a trip that he's supposed to be going on. Dana, listen to this and then you and I will going to talk after this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: This is one of those times where you can honestly say to yourself, dog gone it, this is exactly why I came here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Dana Bash, there you go. So, let's talk about that, how that is affecting the voting, what you're seeing behind the scenes there on Capitol Hill.

DANA BASH, Senior Congressional Correspondent: That is absolutely what many of these lawmakers are grappling with, that very question, the president knows that very well. The question of whether or not this is something that they need to do, vote for health care reform. Many of them -- most of these democrats campaign on health care reform, maybe not the specific details of what is in this legislation, but campaigned on tackling the health care issue in this country.

So, there is no question in talking to so many lawmakers, many of them who were undecided, and have decided in the last 24 to 48 hours that this is a very, very tough vote, especially for the most vulnerable democrats. And you heard the president hit that head on in so many different ways, calling out specific members. He knows they could lose their jobs over this, and talking about the fact that he knows that some of them will -- may not think that their constituents want them to do this, but perhaps this is what they need to do for the conscience and from their perspective for history.

LEMON: And, Dana, you know, two questions. First I want to ask you real quickly because we have been sitting here a lot talking about the president and the people who are for this bill, right? What about the opposition? Eric Cantor has been explicit in talking about his intentions of this, John Boehner, the same thing. What is the opposition doing behind the scenes? They're trying to get those no votes, right?

BASH: They're trying to get the no votes. Look, I mean, I guess maybe it does bear repeating what we're talking about is the president and democratic leaders just trying to corral fellow democrats. We do not expect at this point any republicans even in consideration to vote for this at this time. So, we're just talking about democrats. What is the opposition doing? Well, it is one thing when you talk about the actual lawmakers. They've even been making their case all week long for months and months and months, why they believe this is the wrong thing to do. But, what's interesting is...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But is it effective? Is their plan effective? The president is coming up and then you see him speaking and giving, you know, what seems to be a heart felt speech, calling people out, talking about John Bocera (ph), saying oh, it is great that he came around, and people like Dennis Kucinich in that speech. I would have expected to hear an opposition if not a republican response to that, didn't hear it. So, I'm wondering is it effective or is it just they're working so much behind the scenes that you don't see what they're doing?

BASH: Well, I'm not sure what is going on the house floor right now but I would not be surprised if we are hearing if republicans have already come out in the house floor, they have been doing it all week long. And they're being very, very vocal. They had a press conference earlier today about their opposition, their specific reasons why. And the reason why many democrats think that they have been effective in their opposition is because their message is simple, very simple. Whether it is right or wrong, it is simple, they believe that it's to too big and that it is too much government from their perspective intervention in the health care system. But I want to tell you one other thing...

LEMON: Are you going to talk about the protests right now?

BASH: Yes. Yes.

LEMON: Because I'm getting some information about that. Is it true that John Lewis was called the "n" word during one of these protests?

BASH: That is true. And that's why I wanted to tell you, Don. What has been going on here today is -- I think we have some tape, these lawmakers have been going back and forth, it's beautiful day here in Washington. So, they have been going back and forth outside from the capitol to their offices and they have been greeted by protesters, very loud protesters. John Lewis, you saw the picture of him there, he is a civil rights icon. Most people know that. He's somebody who marched in Selma back in the early '60s. He just told our Congressional Producer Ted Barrett that some of the protesters were hurling racial slurs at him. The "n" word in particular. And I'll tell you that there was another incident that we witnessed inside one of the house office buildings.

Barney Frank, who is an openly gay congressman from Massachusetts, the protesters were screaming kill the bill and threw in a slur toward him using -- talking about his sexuality. So, it has really escalated. Some of the things that we saw over the summer, the town halls, guess what, the town halls came in a very big way on one side of the capitol, but it was just a fascinating, fascinating thing to watch. I mean, this obviously is pretty extreme but even beyond that, fascinating thing to watch, to watch the members go back and forth as they were coming from the capitol and you heard and saw these people just screaming at them, kill the bill. If they can't avoid it.

LEMON: That's unfortunate if that is happening. Listen, I've got to ask Ed Henry this or maybe Dana, whoever wants to answer. Listen, I'm sitting and talking to people and we are, you know, you do this every day, you guys more than I do, and people, we say this is it, this is finally it. Most people I know don't really believe it. They think it is going to go on next week or next month and this is going to continue, so, take us through that. Because, the average viewer, what should I know if I'm sitting at home, is this really it and what does this mean for me? BASH: Well, it will go on next week and this is an important thing to note. If the house leadership is right, as Steny Hoyer says, that they certainly believe that they have the votes, tomorrow, let's just start with tomorrow, let me just show you, I think we have a graphic of what were going to...

LEMON: And the president said 24 hours, he did say, 24 hours from now, he said, there will be a vote.

BASH: That's right. That is going to happen tomorrow, we know that. And here is what we can expect. I believe we have a graphic. What we're going to expect is about 1:00, the house is going to come in. They're going to have a debate, and they're going to have the vote on a procedural measure. Then they're going to have a vote on the package of changes, compromises to the senate health care bill. And then finally they will have a vote on the senate health care bill. When the senate health care bill is passed, it is supposed to go to the president and he is supposed to sign it. At that point, at least the crux of this health care legislation, will be the law of the land. That will happen tomorrow. But you mentioned next week, this is important, it is not going to be over.

The United States senate still has to act on that package of changes. They're doing that through the process we have been talking about known as reconciliation, to pass it with just a simple majority. They're going to start that process next week. It is going to be a long process, it is going to be very interesting to work them -- to watch them work. The parliamentarian and they try to figure out lots of ways to deal with this. Because, it is going to be very tricky for them to maneuver to get this passed. But they hope in the senate, they hope to finish it completely by the end of next week.

LEMON: OK. This is a great conversation. And I want to, you know, we're seeing the capital there. Scottie, if you have the president in about today, I want to show our viewers that. And then, I'm going to bring in Ed Henry and give ED the last word on this as we continue this really developing story. And the president said 24 hours from now that they will have a vote. But who knows what is going to take place between now and then. We have been seeing these protests, Dana has been talking about that. Representative John Lewis apparently allegedly called the "n" word during one of those protests.

So, Ed, if I'm at home, I'm sitting in a restaurant, I'm in an airport, and, you know, cnn is saying, oh this is it, this is it, we've been hearing this for months, I think one representative says, if feels like we've been pregnant for 13 months. So, what is the bottom line here? Is this really it and is this going to go on next week, next month? Why should the American people pay attention to what is happening within the next 24 hours, from your view at the White House?

HENRY: Well, as Dana noted, it is going to go on for at least several days if not a week to get it through the senate, if they can do that. But in terms of being pregnant for 13 months, if you're listening to the president, the country has been pregnant on this for 70, 80 years, and this has been decades and decades in the making. And Robert Gibbs has been very direct in saying, as they face these delays, another day, another week is going to be just fine if at the end they can get it done. So, I think the bottom line that people should take away is that this is about to clear, it appears, a very historic hurdle.

And as the president say, if this gets through the house, it is just one step closer to being probably the biggest domestic achievement as he suggested since Medicare. It's hard to find something else to compare. Nevertheless, as Dana was pointing out, you still have to wait for it to go through the senate. Remember, if there is just one change in the senate, to that fix it bill, the reconciliation piece of it, and say one provision is struck out by these various republican challenges, then that is not the same bill that the house is passing, if they pass it, tomorrow. And then what eventually passes through the senate has to come back to the house. So it...

LEMON: Ed, you confused me.

(CROSSTALK)

HENRY: I don't want to lie. It could go on for a while. But I do think this president, the key is, he finally can see the finish line. He hasn't been able to see it. It has been a long, drawn out debate. But they, here at the White House, finally think they see it.

LEMON: This is -- I think maybe the way to copy it is that, this is the moment that is sort of -- that will foreshadow what happens next with all of this, as it lends to republicans, democrats and especially the president of the United States, what happens in the next 24 hours changes whatever will happen next and however long we will be talking about it. Listen, great conversation. Thank you very much. Dana Bash and our Ed Henry doing a great job. We're going to talk to them a little bit later. And as I said, Ed is going to the Gridiron dinner, he's going to do a little live conversation with us later on. We've got much more news, we're following all this. Thank you both very much. We'll get back to you in just a minute.

We're following everything that is happening. You saw the capitol there live, because that's where it is happening. Our Dana Bash is stationed inside of there, she is on Capitol Hill, really behind the walls of Congress, and talking about the cajoling and wrangling, what is going on here. The back and forth with noes and yeses, it changes, it seems, from moment to moment. It is almost like the ncaa tournament and that would be your score of your bracket card right there. As a matter of fact, we're going to do that at 10:00 to see what happens. It is Saturday, we'll have a little fun with it. We will bring you the serious news.

Listen, let's get back to the debate here. The fate of this bill now before the house hinges on those undeclared votes that you heard Dana and Ed talking about. So, who are they? Here are their faces, 29 that cnn has identified, but there are few lawmakers that cnn hasn't been able to get a hold of. A few of them, we haven't been able to get a hold of. So, we're going to have more on them just a little bit later on.

Our Mark Preston, our Political Editor is going to join us in a little bit. He's going to break it down, we're talking about where they might be leaning because, again, as we say, changes every minute. If passed, though and signed into law, health care reform will affect Americans for generations to come. Many of its provisions won't kick in for years. However, others will be felt almost immediately. And here is what they are.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: As the vote comes down to the wire, President Obama takes his message straight to the people, touting the immediate benefits of his health reform bill.

OBAMA: Starting this year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre- existing conditions will be able to purchase health insurance. Some for the very first time.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The full impact of the bill won't take place for several years. In the meantime, uninsured Americans with pre- existing health conditions will get temporary coverage from a $5 billion fund. This coverage would also include children with pre- existing conditions. Young adults would also immediately be covered under their parents' plan.

OBAMA: And by the way, to all the young people here today, starting this year, if you don't have insurance, all new plans will allow you to stay on your parents' plan until you are 26 years old.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And right away, people with serious illnesses including cancer will no longer face coverage caps from insurance companies. And if people feel their insurance company unfairly denied them coverage, they can appeal through an independent process. And right away for the elderly when they exceed the limit of drug coverage under Medicare part d, they'll get $250 a year to help plug the gap.

OBAMA: Do not quit. Do not give up. We keep on going. We are going to get this done. We are going to make history. We are going to fix health care in America with your help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Was that 2007, 2008? The president on the campaign trail? No, that's all this week and even today, the president out on the campaign trail, so to speak, for health care reform. And we're going to have more on President Obama's speech to the house democratic caucus just a little while ago. Straight ahead here this hour on cnn, we're going to play a lot of it for because it was a very interesting speech. Good stuff that you wanted to here. Some people say, almost sounded like a victory speech. We shall see. We'll let you decide when we play it for you a little bit later on. And our special programming begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow, we'll be covering it all day long for you to make sure you stick with us for up to the minute updates and analysis from the best political team on television, proof of that. Our Ed Henry, Dana Bash, you saw them there in Washington. And, of course, Mark Preston coming up in just a little bit. Meantime, there is more news to tell you about. An apology from the pope. Benedict XVI says, he is sorry to Ireland's Catholics for the church abuse scandal. But will it be enough to restore shattered faith? Will it be?

And Fargo tries to hold back the rising Red River. More than one million sandbags are in place right now. We're watching it live. We're waiting. Our Jacqui Jeras also standing by.

We're getting a lot of feedbacks from you guys regarding this health care reform bill. Keep sending it. We'll get your questions on. We'll also give them to some of our experts, our panels here, to answer them for you. We'll see you in just a moment. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. We're going to get to our weather. There she is. Jacqui Jeras. Hey, Lets see Jacqui real quick. Jacqui, before we go to this, I want to show you. This is really crazy because we're talking about the upper Midwest. Jacqui, look at this and help me out. People along the Red River bracing for more flooding there?

JACQUI JERAS, METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

LEMON: Crests about 19 feet above flood stage. And look at this, this is Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Minnesota this morning due to melting snow, right more than 700,000 sandbags.

JERAS: Yes.

LEMON: Guarding Fargo and the National Guard has to be deployed. What is going on?

Jeras: Well, the Red River is rising, you know, this is the same thing they did last year but the good news is it doesn't look like we'll reach those record levels that we did last time around. You know, this happens all the time. But, you know, the last two years have just been a whole lot worse than it has been as of late. So, we're looking at the river continuing to rise tomorrow. It looks like the crest may be midday at about 37 feet. So, that is very significant. They have been working for weeks and weeks and weeks, probably months, actually, at building the sandbags and the dikes in that area. So, hopefully they'll hold. We'll continue to monitor that situation. Our other big weather story today, on this first day of spring, happens to be very winter weather in the nation's heartland.

LEMON: That doesn't look like spring to me, Jacqui.

JERAS: Yes. Not a lot of fun.

LEMON: Pretty, though.

JERAS: It is, isn't its gorgeous?

LEMON: Yes.

JERAS: Yes. Patricia Smith, our I-reporter from Oklahoma City sent in this video. She said the roads were really slick today, she was planning on trying to drive to a wedding however anyway. So, Patricia, if you're listening, hope you had a safe drive there. Yesterday she said, she spent the day riding her bicycle around the lake that it was so gorgeous, it was like 72 yesterday in Oklahoma City. So, winter storm warning in effect across much of the state there. You can see this next round of the heavy snow starting to move in, oh, about half an hour or so ago. So, some really heavy banding, just west of the city, starting to push in. So, we could see maybe an inch an hour as that moves on in.

The other thing is that the winds are very strong, 20 miles per hour, sustained right now but gusts could be reaching 45 at times. So, we're really worried about blowing and drifting of snow. The heaviest of snow is going to be just north, we think, of i-40, where you can see a good six to ten total. Talk about those differences and changes in the temperatures as that front moves through. Look at it, it's gorgeous up and down the eastern seaboard. Check out Boston, 71 degrees. And it's only 36 in Dallas. What is wrong with that picture, right? That cold air is going to move in behind the system. So, everybody who is enjoying your spring weather in the east today will see the wet weather for tomorrow, followed by cooler temperatures. So, kind of a mixed bag of a little bit of everything.

LEMON: I like that mixed bag. We don't have anywhere handy, Scottie, a live shot of Atlanta, do we have? This is so beautiful.

JERAS: I believe you do, yes.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: So, beautiful here today. It was hard to come into the building. But we knew we had to because we had to have Jacqui to cover the weather. There you go. Centennial Olympic Park, downtown Atlanta. It's just great here. What is that, 70 something degrees you said?

JERAS: Yes. Easily 70. I have to go back...

LEMON: It is like 70 even.

JERAS: Yes, 70 even. It is gorgeous.

LEMON: All right, Jacqui.

JERAS: Rain tomorrow, though.

LEMON: All right. Everything good must come to an end. We need that. Mother Nature. Thank you, Jacqui, see you in just a bit.

So, listen, we have been taking you through this health care reform bill that's going to be voted on Washington. So, we know what the politicians think. You heard us talk at Newseum about that. So, let's find out what the people on the front lines of health care, the doctors and nurses, the patients think about the health care reform package. What does it mean for American families, for you, for you? Listen to the next two people we have coming up. Two doctors, two doctors who work every day in the trenches in health care. One of them is a u.s. representative. They'll give us their take on it next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PROTESTERS: Do the right thing! Do the right thing! Do the right thing! Do the right thing!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Look, that's steel workers in Western Pennsylvania showing some political strength in favor of the health care overhaul. Dozens of union members are staging a sit-in at the congressional offices of Representative Jason Altmire, a democrat currently in the no column on reform. The president of the Steelworkers local 9305 says, his workers helped put Altmire in office and wants him to change his vote. We'll see if that happens, because we're following for you.

And the push and pull over the future of health care affecting patients, politicians, and physicians. We'll probably bring these two people in. First up is Matthew Heinz, a Democratic State Representative in Arizona, who is also an internist. He is joining us from Tucson. He supports the overall and then Dr. Brian Hill is a urologist, joining me live from Atlanta, he's opposed to the health care reform bill. Thank you so much for joining. You may recognize this guy from last -- you caused quite a stir at one of those town hall meetings, conversations that they had. So, we're going to talk to him in just a little bit. But let's go to our guest first, in Arizona, why do you support this bill, Congressman Hines, Representative Hines?

MATTHEW HEINZ, DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, Representative. Thank you for the promotion. And Don, it is great to be here. I have to say that this is something that I ran on and that I told my voters that I would work toward here in Arizona.

And I'm just pleased to see that this is happening and this is going to come to fruition at a national level. It is so important from my background as a medical doctor, I see this all the time. And I see the uninsured and getting this package through, which will focus on wellness and prevention, cover 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured, and do countless other things like close the doughnut hole, that area where our seniors aren't able to get their prescription drug coverage on Medicare, and I can go on for a very long time as to why I think this is great.

LEMON: I want to get Dr. Hill in here. Thank you for that.

We don't want to get too wonky here and want people to know, you talk about doughnut holes, everybody wants to know what that means. It's like that gap of how much your coverage is, how much it's not.

So you're shaking your head, looks like you could disagree with him and both of you are doctors.

DR. BRIAN HILL, UROLOGIST: We all have our own opinions about this. I will tell you this, in my ultimate concern -- and I agree 100 percent that we need to do health care reform. I don't want anybody to discount that.

The problem that I see with this bill here is that we are spending a tremendous amount of money in order to try to bring about health care reform. We are doing that in a system right now where we know it is bankrupting our country. We have already said that our country cannot afford this type of health care plan that we are currently on. And despite that, we have a bill out there that is going to increase our cost by a quarter of a trillion dollars. That is unsustainable. We cannot afford it.

LEMON: Listen, reading the research and talking to you -- I talked to you on the phone, you texted me this morning. I talked to Representative Heinz.

You believe, Representative Heinz, that it sort of -- it is, I don't know, what you say, for lack of a better word, doesn't make sense or it is not correct.

Because Representative Heinz says that we're already covering people who are uninsured and that is costing more money than the reform bill will cost, or what it will cost in that bill. Is that right, Representative Heinz?

HEINZ: Indeed, Don. And the other thing I have to point out, according to the analysis that was just released by the CBO, in fact, this plan does actually generate the funding to pay for itself, and at the same time, over the first ten years, reduce the deficit by $138 billion due to some of the loopholes that are closed and some of the things in Medicare that are reduced in terms of cost. I think it is important to note that.

LEMON: He's saying this is ducks in a pond.

HILL: This is ducks in a pond. I'll tell you. I agree. I read the CBO report, but I've also read the Chief Actuary Report. The CBO report, all they do is they determine about whether or not this decreases our deficit. It doesn't mention one thing about our national health care expenditures, the annual, how much we spend on health care.

LEMON: Let me bring this back on the tracks -- on the rails here. I think the reason that we have both of you on is because both of you are in the trenches and Matt Heinz knows as a representative, a lawmaker and a physician. What are you, a emergency room physician?

HEINZ: An internist.

LEMON: I'm an internist.

(CROSSTALK)

HEINZ: I'm an internist.

LEMON: So then -- help people understand what is at stake here and why the difference, why you believe that we can't afford it and he believes, on the other side, that we can afford it, and we can't not afford it. We cannot afford to do this.

HILL: We need to fix our health care system. I, just like everybody, want quality health care to everybody. I want that. I think we all need that. The problem is that if it is unsustainable, if it's unaffordable, we cannot spend more money on it. We got to find a better way to fix the system.

LEMON: It's it going to cost us billions of dollars to overhaul our Medicine --

HILL: It is. That's why the more efficient way to fix the system, because there are better plans and better ideas out there to find a way to decrease the cost within the system. This increases the cost. It doesn't bring it down.

LEMON: Anything that we have ever done, as a lawmaker, you would know this, Representative Heinz, anything we have ever done, hasn't it started with we do it, it is not always perfect, then we work on it. It always costs money. Is this any different in your eyes, as a doctor, and as a lawmaker, than any other thing that we have covered, even Medicare that we have done?

HEINZ: That's right. And that's been around since the '50s. We passed a program like that, that does an expansive overhaul of something, in this case health care, and moving forward, and you sometimes you have to tweak it. We have tweaked Medicare many times. It will be the same with this bill. But this is a major step in the right direction on many fronts.

LEMON: Yes. And I'll let you get the last word in, and we have to go.

HILL: I'll tell you guys, I've read this plan in and out. I've read everything about this plan. I read both sides of this plan. This is a destructive plan. I hope people listen to me. There is plenty of data and information out there that show this plan is going to increase costs. It is going to affect our jobs. It going to affect the quality of people's health care. It has been done in Massachusetts. That's where I initially started, talking about Massachusetts with my senator. Look at Massachusetts, guys, it is going under. This is an awful plan.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Listen, thank you. We could go on. I'm glad you guys offered that perspective as doctors.

HILL: I'm scared. I'm scared for my peeps.

LEMON: Are you?

HILL: I really am. This is an awful plan. I'm scared for my kids.

HEINZ: I'm not. I'm not at all, Don.

HILL: Then look at the numbers. And read them properly and don't just throw these kind of great ideas out there, these things that sound wonderful out there. You got to look at the reports. You've got to look at the CMS report. The Chief Actuary Report says it's going to raise costs.

LEMON: I do have to say this.

HILL: And it's going to decrease access to seniors.

LEMON: I understand what you're saying. But he's the lawmaker, so he knows the in and outs maybe a little bit more than you.

HILL: I agree.

LEMON: And how getting laws and plans in place work rather than -- I understand you're a doctor.

HILL: True.

LEMON: But he may have a little bit more of an inside on you because he knows what happens behind the scenes.

HILL: I won't discount his insight. But he's not looking at the numbers. He's following the roses in the sky kind of ideas without looking at what the effects are. This is medicine. We cannot accept politics for medicine.

LEMON: All right.

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

LEMON: You are fighting here. They're going to beat me up after the show.

HILL: It is a bad plan.

LEMON: Thank you very much. We appreciate it.

(CROSSTALK)

HEINZ: Thanks a lot, Don.

LEMON: You'll be fine. I'll give you a hug.

HILL: I'm scared.

(LAUGHTER0

LEMON: She was a guide, a leading tourist of the Amazon. Now she is a "CNN Hero." We'll tell you why. Also ahead, nobody likes to be sitting near a crying baby. Wait until you hear what some people want to do about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: President Barack Obama making a forceful argument for overhauling health care. Less than 24 hours before the House votes on reform, here are some of his closing remarks to House Democrats just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is one of those times where you can honestly say to yourself, dog gone it, this is exactly why I came here. This is why I got into politics. This is why I got into public service. This is why I made those sacrifices, because I believe so deeply in this country. And I believe so deeply in this democracy, and I'm willing to stand up, even when it is hard, even when it's tough.

Every single one of you have made that promise, not just to your constituents, but to yourself. And this is the time to make true on that promise. We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.

We have been debating health care for decades. It has now been debated for a year. It is now in your hands. It is time to pass health care reform for America. And I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow. (APPLAUSE).

Thank you very much, House of Representatives. Let's get this done!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Senior political editor, Mark Preston, jump in here.

So, Mark, the president is out and you hear what that -- what the head of the Democratic Party says, the president, no doubt. What is the GOP doing? I asked Dana. She's up on Capitol Hill checking. You're checking as well. They're fighting behind the scenes to kill this. What's going on? You got new information?

MARK PRESTON, SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes. Don, they are looking beyond the health care vote. People don't want to hear this, but everything that is happening today, everything that is going to happen over the next 24 hours, and for the next six to seven months, has to do with politics.

As we speak now, Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee chairman, has sent out a letter to every one of his members. It is more of a pep talk, a talking point memo, telling them, look, we need to fight as we head into the midterm elections. He talks about how Democrats are really a big government, a liberal government. He's trying to instill these talking points into his membership. He talks about how the fact that voters are looking for conservative principles. Again, not shocking that what he's saying this.

But what they're doing, Don, is they're they're forecasting ahead, looking ahead to the midterm elections. Republicans believe, Don, they can win in November if this health care bill does go through.

LEMON: Do they have any -- do they have any leverage? Do they have to convince Democrats? I'm talking about Republicans here. Or are Democrats basically deciding on their own? Is this of the Republicans' doing or no?

PRESTON: Well, look, I mean, as far as votes go here in Washington, a vote isn't a vote until we see the results. I think the Republican Party, by and large, Don, is looking beyond this vote. I think they see that they don't think that they're going to win. However, a loss on health care does not necessarily mean a loss for the Republican Party.

The Republican Party, again, strictly looking at it from a political sense, believes that they can win in November, Don, if health care reform passes.

And interestingly enough, here is a talking theme that you will see. If there is only 216 votes for health care, which is the bare minimum to pass this legislation, Don, 216, every one of those 216 Democrats will be declared by the Republican Party as the deciding vote to pass this bill. And guess what, if it is 217 or 218, that Democrat and Nancy Pelosi were the two deciding Democrats for health care to pass.

LEMON: OK. Listen, as we said, you talked about -- at the beginning of the show we said how is this playing when we talked about introducing you, how will this play in Peoria. You're talking about the midterms come November. But seriously, how will this play in Peoria if we're sitting there watching right now, wondering what my Congressman, what my lawmakers are doing behind the scenes. Quickly, Mark, we have a few seconds here, what do you tell folks back at home?

PRESTON: Bottom line is this is a very complex piece of legislation. We don't know how it is going to work. If you listen to the Democrats, you think it is the Holy Grail. If you listen to the Republicans, you think it is the worst thing ever.

The fact is, whoever is going to be the most successful over next six or seven months is going to win in November.

Having said that, expect Democrats to lose seats anyway. It is a historical precedent for the party in power to lose seats, especially when they own the White House -- Don?

LEMON: Mark Preston is just getting started. We're here all night, my friend, and we'll be here throughout the day tomorrow. Mark, thank you. See you later on. Nice haircut.

Stay with CNN throughout the weekend as we cover this crucial vote. Our special programming begins 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. We'll be covering it all day long for you. As a matter of fact, our Wolf Blitzer is coming in on a Sunday and he's going to be helming our coverage for you tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned here to CNN.

Well, she went from being a tour guide at CNN to a "CNN Hero," I should say, and find out what one woman is doing to ease suffering in South America.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: And adventure tour guide on a mission to save lives in the Amazon jungle. Her name is Patty Webster, this week's "CNN Hero". She goes the extra mile to bring medical care to the most remote and impoverished areas of Peru.

(CNN HERO)

LEMON: If you want to see more of Patty's work in Peru, go to CNN.com/heroes and also, right there, nominate someone you think should be a "CNN Hero."

Is Dr. Sanjay Gupta telling us to work out less? His surprising advice in our "Fit Nation" report just ahead. Work out less? I like that.

And crying babies on airliners, we have all been through it. They can make long flights even longer. Some folks are offering a solution that will leave other folks screaming.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: "The Situation Room" is straight ahead.

Wolf, what do you have for us?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM: Don, thanks very much.

Lots coming up right here in "The Situation Room." Scott Brown, the newest member of the United States Senate, is here. We'll talk about health care reform, how he's trying desperately to defeat it.

Also a different perspective from the filmmaker Michael Moore, why he reluctantly says to those members vote yes for health care reform.

We'll also all speak with the Mexican ambassador to the United States about spring break in Mexico. How safe is it for American students?

All that and a lot more coming up right here in "The Situation Room."

Back to you, Don.

LEMON: We'll be watching at the top of the hour. Thank you, Wolf. We'll see you here tomorrow as well.

It's a workout routine that sounds too good to be true. Workout less and benefit more. It's true, at least according to one new study. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more in today's "Fit Nation."

(FIT NATION)

LEMON: Thank you, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Planning to take a baby on an airline flight? We'll tell you why some people think you should leave the kid at home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. Admit it, does your heart sink when you get on an airline and you see a crying baby in the seat next to you or anywhere close to you? It happens to me. This issue of crying babies and unruly children on flights is a passionate one for passengers on both sides of the aisle and has sparked heated debate on CNN.com. Some of you say babies should be banned from plane, movie theaters, restaurants, and any other public place for that matter. Others say, not so fast. After all, families need to travel to visit each other, right?

We want it hear from you. Also send me a tweet or send something on Facebook or e-mail me if you have my e-mail address here.

Listen, Dr. Brian Hill got you guys riled up. You've been sending me some questions here for him. We're going to do it at 7:00 p.m. eastern. We're going to bring Dr. Hill back. I'm going to read some of your questions and ask him what he would do differently, since he is opposed to this bill. We ran out of time in this show. We'll bring that to you at 7:00 p.m., so make sure you tune in and send us your questions.

"The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer begins now. See you at 7:00.