More Democrats defected on the House's first anti-Obamacare bill of 2014 than on any other Obamacare-related vote to date, a blow to party unity and leadership's advice that rank-and-file members stand strong against GOP "gotcha" bills. The legislation, which would require victims of security breaches through the HealthCare.gov insurance exchanges to be notified within two days, passed 291-122. Sixty-seven Democrats joined Republicans to vote for the bill. Democratic leaders were expecting defections from the rank and file, particularly from more moderate and vulnerable incumbents. But it wasn't immediately clear whether they were expecting fractures of this magnitude. Even the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, Steve Israel, D-N.Y., voted for the bill. Democratic leaders had encouraged a "no" vote. (more…)
