This morning I was one of many bloggers and conservative activists on a conference call with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, 5th CD), Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA, 4th CD), and Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA, 8th CD). The topic of discussion was the status of the debate over government-run healthcare, and the possibility that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would push for a vote this weekend, probably on Saturday.

Each of the three GOP members of congress on the call had to go in and out of the room during the call, as there were votes being taken on the floor.

Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers saluted the many thousands who converged on Washington, D.C. on Thursday, protesting against government-run healthcare and filling the hallways of congress. She said that the "House Call" protests had a strong impact on members of congress, creating quite a buzz and becoming a major topic of discussion among the members.

Congressman Hastings outlined the stark differences in the approaches of the Democrats and the Republicans on healthcare. The Democrats, he said, wanted to centralize control and restrict choices. But in contrast to Obama, Pelosi, and Reid, the Republicans want to utilize solutions based on the marketplace - not based on government. The GOP favors expanding choice and increasing competition to bring down the cost of healthcare and healthcare insurance. Hastings said that Pelosi is trying very hard to twist arms and pressure Democratic members of congress into voting for Obamacare. He said that the actual Democratic vote count was very close and truly in doubt - that the situation was fluid, and that the actual Democratic vote count could literally change from hour to hour.

McMorris Rodgers said that Pelosi is trying to put on a "happy face" in the aftermath of the Virginia and New Jersey elections, where the GOP won by strong margins in states carried by Obama. Lots of Democrats in congress are nervous about risking a vote for Obamacare, but Pelosi knows this issue is a priority for her party and President Obama, so she has to keep pushing to keep it on track.

Both Hastings and McMorris Rodgers confirmed that Eric Cantor, the House Republican whip, has lined up unanimous GOP opposition to the Obama healthcare effort. Not a single GOP member of congress will vote in favor of it when/if Pelosi pushes a vote this weekend.

McMorris Rodgers noted that there are two "hot button issues" that are causing for difficulty for Democrats in swing districts - the use of federal healthcare money to pay for abortions, and access to healthcare insurance by illegal immigrants. McMorris Rodgers said there are 54 Democrats who have expressed concern about federal funding of abortion, and 38 Democrats who have voiced their opposition to the so-called "public option."

Hastings and McMorris Rodgers both indicated that the Democrat healthcare bill would lead to over $700 billion in tax increases. In response to a question, Hastings noted that the bill would add $1.3 trillion to the national deficit, in addition to raise taxes and cutting medicare benefits.

McMorris Rodgers noted that the Democratic healthcare proposal would be partiuclarly harmful to women. She noted that 85% of family healthcare decisions are made by women, but that under the Democrats' proposal, decision-making power would shift from individuals to healthcare bureaucrats and commissioners. She noted that women make up 70% of medicare recipients, and are also the majority of caregivers for elederly relatives receiving medicare benefits. Also, noting that two-thirds of new small businesses are started by women, McMorris Rodgers said that the Democratic proposal was particular onerous and harmful to small businesses. She said if passed, it would block the development of small businesses which are vital to economic recovery, resulting in millions more lost jobs.

Congressman Reichert, who arrived late to the conference call due to business on the House floor, spoke about his efforts to expose the hypocrisy and conflict of interest involved in the endorsement of Obamacare by the AARP. Reichert said that President Obama claims people will be able to keep their own insurance, but that this is not true. For example, the proposed cuts in Medicare advantage would force many senior citizens (currently happy with Medicare advantage) to switch to United Health. And AARP gets royalties related to United Health, leading to the concerns of conflict of interest. He noted that 14,000 senior citizens in the 8th CD are on Medicare advantage.

Congressman Hastings commended the work of Reichert and his staff in challenging the AARP. Hastings sharply criticized AARP, saying it should be looking out for the interests of senior citizens instead of seeking after royalties. And Reichert slammed the AARP for supporting federal taxes on medical devices, noting that this especially hurts seniors and disabled people. Reichert will be meeting with representatives of the AARP on November 18.

As the conference call came to an end, Congressman Hastings emphasized the critical importance of bloggers and activists in disseminating information, especially to seniors and especially in the western Washington congressional districts. "This bill can be beaten," Hastings said, urging protesters and activists to go "full power ahead."

Congressman Reichert concluded the meeting by urging an effort to reach out to seniors, noting that the Democratic bill would be an "absolute travesty" for America's senior citizens.