Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) is dead. May he rest in Haditha, Iraq.

That’s one less vote for Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) to drum up for Obamacare.

But Wait, there are more “defections.”

Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL) announced in October that he is retiring from Congress so that he can serve as the head of the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.

One Republican, Joseph Cao (LA) voted for the House version of Obamacare but will not consider it this time as the Senate version on abortion is unappealing to him.

With Wexler leaving, Murtha gone, and Cao vowing to not vote Aye this time around Ms. Pelosi is down to 217 votes.

Doing the math we have 413 members in the US House of Representatives currently seated. Pelosi can still get her votes in but a special election for Murtha’s seat could very well go to a Republican. That race is currently rated a toss-up.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) is running for Governor of the Aloha state and he says goodbye to the House on February 28. With 432 seats occupied in the House and 216 votes Ms. Pelosi is lacking a majority.

While we were playing with the number with great excitement did we mention Murtha’s death, at a government-run hospital, was a result of medical error?

Thought you might like to know. Indeed!