Obama heads to Iowa City, IA, the very place he unveiled his health-care plan nearly three years ago… Senate Republicans score a moral victory from the Senate parliamentarian, meaning that the reconciliation bill must go back to the House to be passed… A few conservative activists, as well as the GOP, haven't reacted too well to losing in the health-care debate… DNC goes up with TV and radio ads…. Crist and Rubio spar over the airwaves… And does Dick Cheney endorsing Trey Grayson in KY really help Grayson?

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Back to Iowa: At 2:00 pm ET today, President Obama promotes his health-care law in Iowa City, IA -- which happens to be the place where he originally unveiled his health-care plan almost three years ago (on May 29, 2007). "Never forget that we have it within our power to shape history in this country," Obama said back then. "It is not in our character to sit idly by as victims of fate or circumstance, for we are a people of action and innovation, forever pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Now is the time to push those boundaries once more." But today's speech in Iowa is more than a victory lap. Iowa, after all, is home to many seniors, who have been among the most skeptical groups about health care. Yet seniors are a group that he can win back, because these folks -- who receive Social Security and Medicare -- know firsthand how government can work for them. And, of course, these are the same seniors who caucused for him back in Jan. 2008. But getting his message right and selling seniors is perhaps the most important thing he can do for his party in the short term, given that seniors are the most dominant voting bloc in a midterm election.

*** Frumin! It's not Jerry Seinfeld's Newman; it's Alan Frumin, the Senate parliamentarian. Per NBC's Ken Strickland, Senate Republicans scored small victory late last night when the parliamentarian ruled in their favor eliminating two minor provisions from a health care bill. Once the Senate completes its work on the so-called "fixes" bill, it must be sent back to the House for another vote. This is really only a moral victory for Republicans, Strick adds, because the provisions struck from the bill pertain to student loans and will have virtually no impact on the substance or cost of the health care components. All it does is the process for a day and requires the House to take another vote. Senate Democrats are confident the House will take up the bill as early as Thursday night and pass it quickly and easily. At about 2:00 pm ET today, after voting on the remaining amendments, the Senate is expected to take up final passage on the fixes bill. It's then sent to the House for their final vote.

*** Over the line: If you've played organized sports, you heard many a coach say something like this: You learn a lot more about someone after they lose rather than after they win. Well, we've learned quite a bit from a few conservative activists, as well as the some in the GOP, during and after health care's passage. Let's first start with the vandalism and threats of violence against House Democrats who voted for the health-care legislation. "The pitched battle over health care has unleashed a rash of vandalism and attacks directed at politicians, with at least 10 House Democrats reporting death threats or incidents of harassment or vandalism at their district offices over the past week," the Washington Post writes. House Minority Leader John Boehner said the incidents were unacceptable and needed to be channeled in a better way. NBC's Luke Russert reports that Boehner will address the violence/threats at his weekly press conference today. This is a danger for Republicans right now as the skeptical middle (not happy about the health care plan but also unhappy about the tone in Washington) watches all this unfold.

*** Stay classy, San Diego: But it's not just a few conservative activists who've reacted poorly to losing the health-care debate. It's also elected Republican politicians and the GOP. First, there was Rep. Randy Neugebauer's (R) "baby killer" remark that appeared directed at Rep. Bart Stupak (D), who has since received death threats. Then there was Sen. John McCain's (R) vow that there "will be no cooperation for the rest of the year" because Senate Democrats were using reconciliation to pass fixes to the health-care law. And then on Tuesday and Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked committee hearings past 2:00 pm ET because of their anger over health care.

*** Some caution for everyone: All of this is a reminder to Republicans, Democrats, and the media: There is a danger in overreaching and under reacting. Democrats are walking a line of genuine concern and playing politics; Republicans need to be careful not to come across too dismissive and simply write this off as politics as usual; and the media have to be careful because over-coverage could end up encouraging more behavior (at the same time, we can't ignore what's out there). There is also a difference between angry rants and actual death threats; many in the media know the difference and receive rants, well, every day.

*** The TV ads cometh: Staying with health care, the DNC is now running TV ads thanking and defending 25 House Democrats who voted for health care, including potentially vulnerable Reps. Betsy Markey (CO), Tom Perriello (VA), Tim Bishop (NY), and John Boccieri (OH). Here's an example of one of those ads. In addition, the DNC is running radio ads hitting 10 Republicans representing congressional districts that Obama won who voted against health care -- like Mary Bono Mack (CA), Mark Kirk (IL), and Mike Castle (DE). 

*** The Crist-vs.-Rubio ad war: Speaking of TV ads, Charlie Crist yesterday went up with his first TV ad, and it directly attacks Marco Rubio, accusing him of being a lobbyist, being an insider, and using political donations to fund "his lavish lifestyle." Well, the Rubio camp has responded with a pair of TV ads that simply show Crist stumping with Obama over the stimulus from last year. Game on? Remember, Crist has about three times as much in the bank as Rubio does.

*** The Establishment to the rescue? Yesterday, Dick Cheney endorsed Trey Grayson in his GOP Senate primary against Rand Paul. And so far this cycle, we've seen establishment-favored GOP candidates get similar endorsements – Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove are backing Bob Bennett in Utah, and the Bush clan and Cheney backed Kay Bailey Hutchison. But as that KBH example proved, do these endorsements actually help? Or do they hurt? The goal for these so-called establishment Republicans is to inoculate themselves from the charge that they aren't "real conservatives." The hope is that by getting endorsements from conservatives the left "loves to hate," it can make it harder for their primary opponents to paint them as RINOs or Washington insiders. But it didn't work for Hutchison; Bennett's struggling; and Grayson's down double digits.

Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 40 days
Countdown to NE and WV primaries: 47 days
Countdown to AR, KY, OR and PA primaries: 54 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 222 days

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The New York Times: "The United States and Russia have broken a logjam in arms control negotiations and expect to sign a treaty next month to slash their nuclear arsenals to the lowest levels in half a century, officials in both nations said Wednesday."

"The U.S. and Israel failed to heal their deepest dispute in decades as a two-day visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  ended late Wednesday without resolving a rift over new Israeli housing planned in east Jerusalem," the New York Daily News writes.

The Washington Post previews Obama's stop in Iowa today. "President Obama will return Thursday to the place where he first called for health-care legislation, aiming now to convince Americans of the benefits of the measure he just signed into law."

John Boehner has an op-ed in the Des Moines Register pre-butting Obama's Iowa visit.

Time's Joe Klein: "Obama Delivers on His Promise of Change."

No big f'deal: "At a Baltimore fund-raiser last night, Biden said President Obama brought up his faux pas at a White House morning briefing and remarked: 'You know what the best thing about yesterday was? Joe's comment.' Biden said he replied to Obama, 'If you thought it was so good, why didn't you say it?'"

"Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday in forcing a change in a measure altering President Obama's newly enacted health care overhaul, meaning the bill will have to return to the House for final congressional approval," the New York Daily News writes.

"A potential Republican majority may not be able to repeal healthcare reform, but they'd probably refuse to fund it, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said," The Hill notes. "It's going to take appropriated funds to actually come through the process to fund the hiring of new employees to create these new bureaucracies," Boehner said on FOX. "I can't imagine that a Republican Congress is going to give this president the money to begin this process."

"The FBI is investigating threats against lawmakers stemming from intense opposition to the health care overhaul law," the AP says. "House majority leader Steny Hoyer said more than 10 Democratic lawmakers have reported incidents. The FBI and Capitol Police, Hoyer said, have briefed lawmakers on how to handle perceived security threats… While not directly criticizing Republican lawmakers, Hoyer said: "Any show of appreciation for such actions encourages such action."

Roll Call: "A spike in security threats in the wake of the House health care vote continued to rattle Democratic Members on Wednesday, with several accusing Republican leaders of stoking an already incendiary environment."

"Despite opposing a financial regulatory overhaul bill in the Senate Banking Committee earlier this week, Republican Senators Robert Corker and Judd Gregg said yesterday that Congress will approve the legislation this year," the Boston Globe writes. "There's a '100 percent chance' the legislation will be passed this year, Gregg of New Hampshire told members of a US Chamber of Commerce meeting in Washington. This is an issue that almost every American wants to see passed,' Corker said. 'There will be a lot of pressure on every senator and every House member.' The banking panel voted 13 to 10 Monday to pass a bill written by Senator Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who leads the committee. Corker said Republicans, who unanimously opposed Dodd's plan, made a 'strategic error' by letting the committee approve the measure without offering or debating amendments."

FLORIDA: "With Florida's primary now five months --  to the day -- away, the two leading Republican Senate candidates in the Sunshine State spent Wednesday firing political punches at each other," the New York Times says. Gov. Crist released a television spot as well as a radio ad, while Rubio unveiled a new web video as well as two television ads, the New York Times adds.

KENTUCKY: " Former Vice President Dick Cheney endorsed Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson Wednesday in the U.S. Senate race, underscoring what Grayson believes could be a fatal flaw in his chief opponent [Rand Paul's] campaign," namely weakness on defense issues, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

MARYLAND: CQ quotes a report from WJLA-TV saying, "Ex-Gov. Bob Ehrlich is going to try for a comeback," and will announce his challenge to incumbent Martin O'Malley (D) on April 7th.

MASSACHUSETTS: "Governor Deval Patrick returned from a fund-raising trip to California to find his two main rivals in the governor's race pummeling each other furiously, underscoring the increasingly fierce fight between Republican Charles D. Baker Jr. and independent Timothy P. Cahill to become the prime alternative to the Democratic incumbent," the Boston Globe writes. "With both challengers chasing disaffected voters, Cahill has attacked Baker for his involvement in the financing of the Big Dig and for his views on health care. Baker returned fire yesterday by challenging Cahill's fund-raising methods and the transparency in his office, calling for new disclosures on donors connected directly or indirectly with business interests before the treasurer. Polls suggest that Patrick's best chance to win will be if both challengers fight to the end, splitting the anti-incumbent vote."

NEVADA: "The Tea Party Express plans today to launch an ad denouncing Scott Ashjian for running his U.S. Senate campaign under the Tea Party of Nevada banner without backing from local and national members of the movement," the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

From NBC's Shawna Thomas and Luke Russert
Last week, House Democrats were meeting behind closed doors to try to find the magic number of 216 to pass health care. This week -- after its passage -- the caucus met about their personal safety.

Since this weekend's historic vote, at least 10 Democratic representatives have received verbal and written threats. The House Seargent at Arms, FBI, and U.S. Capitol Police all met with House members "to address security concerns."

VIDEO: Some lawmakers are taking extra security precautions after receiving death threats over their votes in favor of health reform legislation. MSNBC's David Shuster reports.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

One of the offices that has received multiple threatening and vulgar messages is Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI). Stupak's yes vote on health care was key to getting the Democrats over the 216 mark.

One anonymous caller to Stupak's office said, "There are millions of people across the country who wish you ill and all of those thoughts projected on you will materialize into something that's not very good for you."

Another man who leaves his address on the recording said, "You're a cowardly punk, Stupak. That's what you are. You and your family is scum. You oughta fill your pockets with lead and jump in the Potomac."

Stupak's office also received a faxed picture of a noose. There are reports of Majority Whip Clyburn's office receiving a similar fax, as well as threatening phone calls to his home. When asked about the calls, Clyburn said: "My wife is pretty used to this. She didn't share all the conversations with me. We turned over the phone numbers... For five years before I came to Congress, I was under constant state protection so we know how to do this."

Other members of Congress who have received threats include Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) and Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH). Both are representatives who flipped their health=care reform votes from no to yes. 

First Read and NBC News have previously reported on the vandalism involving the district offices of Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, as well as the incident at Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-VA) brother's home.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello (D) issued this statement about the news that his brother's gas line was cut, after the home address was posted on a local Tea Party Web sites mistakenly believing it was the congressman's home:

My number one priority right now is ensuring the safety of my brother's family, and I am grateful to law enforcement for their excellent work. While it is too early to say anything definitive regarding political motivations behind this act, it's never too early for political leaders to condemn threats of violence, particularly as threats to other Members of Congress and their children escalate. And so I ask every member of House and Senate leadership to state unequivocally tonight that it is never OK to harm or threaten elected officials and their families with anything more than political retribution. Here in America, we settle our political differences at the ballot box.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus says the vote-o-rama on the amendments to the health reconciliation bill should start approximately at 5:10 pm ET.

He says there are 21 amendments pending, but he expects several more to be filed. Baucus adds that it usually takes an hour to vote on three amendments.

He expects the Senate to be voting beyond midnight.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Yesterday, more than a dozen state attorneys general across the country -- almost all of them Republicans and quite a few of them running for governor this year -- announced that they were challenging the constitutionality of the new health-care law.

And some of them are now getting backlash for wading into what seems to be a very political story: trying to overturn a law that was passed by Congress and signed into law.

Here's the Palm Beach Post's editorial on Florida AG Bill McCollum, who's running for governor: "Having lost in the Capitol, after refusing to play, Republicans who claim to hate judicial activism want the judicial branch to overrule the legislative and executive branches."

Here's the Detroit Free Press on Michigan AG Mike Cox, running for governor: "As a candidate for his party's gubernatorial nomination, Cox has every right to pander to the Tea Party adherents many believe will play a decisive role in August's Republican primary. As Michigan's top law enforcement officer, he should know better than to pursue his specious claim that Congress has exceeded its constitutional authority."

And here's a front-page Washington Post piece on Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli: "The move was classic Cuccinelli -- bold, defiant and in-your-face, an effort to use any means at his disposal to stop what he sees as a federal government gone wild. That approach has transformed him in just a few months from being a fairly obscure state senator into a national conservative folk hero -- a tea partier with conviction and, more importantly, power."

From NBC's Pete Williams
Virginia officials, aided by the FBI, are looking into how a residential propane feeder line was cut at the home of the brother of a Virginia congressman.

Investigators have reached no conclusions about how or why it happened. But the line was cut after the home's address was posted on a blog and a Facebook page, both maintained by members of a local Tea Party group who thought it was the home of Rep. Tom Perriello, a Virginia Democrat who voted in favor of the health-care bill.

One said, "This is Rep. Thomas Stuart Price Perriello's home address," and added, "I ain't holding back anymore!!" The other urged readers to "drop by" the home and "express their thanks" for the vote. 

The cut in the gas line, which runs from a propane tank to a gas grill on a screened-in porch, was discovered Tuesday, the day after the address was posted. When they realized that it was incorrect, the operators of the blog and Faceboook page took the address off.

The chairman of the Lynchburg, VA, Tea Party, Mark Lloyd, told NBC News, "I learned what happened after the fact. We made an official statement on our Web site," saying that that his group "did not request, sanction, or endorse" posting the address, which appeared on a different Web site.

Tea Party member Nigel Coleman, who wrote one of the Internet posts, told the Charlottesville Daily Progress that he was shocked when he heard about the incident.

"I would hope that people aren't thinking about doing anything crazy," the paper quoted him as saying. "We just wanted people to get close to the congressman and have their voices heard. Violence is not going to answer anything."

From NBC's Charlie Specht
In a conference call with reporters this afternoon, lawyers from the Center for American Progress and the American Constitution Society argued that the recently passed health-care law stands firmly on constitutional grounds.

"This whole campaign challenging the constitutionality is just the latest chapter in conservative right-wing scare tactics designed to frighten people," said Simon Lazarus, public policy counsel to the National Senior Citizens Law Center. "It really is a natural heir to the death panels, the natural heir to the government takeover. Frankly they're embarrassing from a legal standpoint. I am confident they will be summarily dismissed by even conservative federal judges."

Erwin Chemerinsky, founding dean and distinguished professor of law at University of California-Irvine School of Law, said public opinion doesn't determine constitutionality. 

"It's so important to separate what's desirable over what's constitutional," he said. "I think a lot of the public rhetoric is about its wrong to force people to purchase insurance. I think any court would find this is reasonable. Virtually every person at some point will need medical care. The main argument is that this exceeds the scope of Congress' power."

That power, specifically the commerce clause of the Constitution, gives Congress the right "to regulate commerce…among the several states." While opponents have argued that a person not purchasing health insurance doesn't affect commerce, and therefore shouldn't be subject to the tax levied on those not purchasing insurance, Chemerinsky thought otherwise.

"This has an over $1 billion economic effect," he said. "Not purchasing health care is an important economic activity. The question is (does) this economic activity across the country have a substantial effect on the entire economy? I think that answer is yes."

As for the legal challenge Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli announced he would file against the law, Lazarus said it wouldn't hold weight.

"The attorneys general don't have a right to challenge," he said. "Only individuals who have to pay a penalty fours years from now, if that comes to pass, will have a say in this."

And while states like Virginia can't block the implementation of federal law, lawyer Robert Shapiro said attorneys general can only argue how the law will affect their states.

"The only kind of claim attorneys general have is how their states are being affected," he said.

From NBC's Mark Murray
You can add Republican Dan Senor to the growing list of Democrats and Republicans who have decided NOT to challenge NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), following Harold Ford Jr., Mort Zuckerman, and Rudy Giuliani.

Senor's statement:

"Over the past few weeks, I took a very serious look at running for the Senate seat in New York," Senor said in a statement. "I ultimately decided this wasn't the right time in my family and business life for me to run."

Senor added, "I was privileged to meet so many thoughtful, impressive, and energetic people as I explored this race, and I was very gratified by their enthusiasm. I will continue to look for ways to advance the policy debate here in New York, especially on issues that I am most concerned about: America's declining economic competitiveness, skyrocketing deficits and taxes, a national security strategy that is drifting and a morally equivalent foreign policy that is troubling."

And he concluded, "There are a number of terrific opportunities for Republicans in 2010 -- including in this Senate race -- and I will lend a hand wherever I can be helpful. I love this state, and I intend to stay involved in matters that affect it."

From NBC's Mark Murray
Next month, prospective GOP presidential candidates -- Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, Mike Pence -- will gather in New Orleans to speak at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. Mitt Romney was the only prominent potential 2012-er who was skipping the event.

But the AP is reporting that Pawlenty is now pulling out. "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has withdrawn from a major Republican gathering in New Orleans next month to attend a welcome-home ceremony for soldiers returning from Iraq. Pawlenty canceled his planned April 10 trip to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, billed as 'the most prominent GOP gathering prior to the next national convention.' A recognition ceremony for the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division is set for the same day in Minneapolis."

Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant emails First Read: "SRLC is a great event and the governor was looking forward to meeting a lot of conservatives activists there. But he can't be in two places at once. As Commander-in-Chief of the Minnesota National Guard, he had a responsibility to welcome home these troops from their mission in Iraq."

From NBC's Mark Murray
As we noted earlier today, one of the immediate benefits President Obama is touting in his health-care law is that it would prohibit insurers from denying children with pre-existing conditions. "This year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need," Obama said yesterday.

But, according to the AP, that provision for children isn't ironclad -- this year.

Hours after President Barack Obama signed historic health care legislation, a potential problem emerged. Administration officials are now scrambling to fix a gap in highly touted benefits for children.

Obama made better coverage for children a centerpiece of his health care remake, but it turns out the letter of the law provided a less-than-complete guarantee that kids with health problems would not be shut out of coverage.

Under the new law, insurance companies still would be able to refuse new coverage to children because of a pre-existing medical problem, said Karen Lightfoot, spokeswoman for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the main congressional panels that wrote the bill Obama signed into law Tuesday.

However, if a child is accepted for coverage, or is already covered, the insurer cannot exclude payment for treating a particular illness, as sometimes happens now. For example, if a child has asthma, the insurance company cannot write a policy that excludes that condition from coverage. The new safeguard will be in place later this year.

Full protection for children would not come until 2014, said Kate Cyrul, a spokeswoman for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, another panel that authored the legislation.

*** UPDATE *** HHS has this response: "Under the Act, plans that include coverage of children cannot deny coverage to a child based upon a pre-existing condition. To ensure that there is no ambiguity on this point, the Secretary of HHS is preparing to issue regulations next month making it clear that the term 'pre-existing exclusion' applies to both a child's access to a plan and his or her benefits once he or she is in the plan for all plans newly sold in this country six months from today."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just yielded back all of the Democratic time in the debate, at least seven hours worth. That means there are about eight hours left in the debate before the vote-o-rama starts.

It also means all the remaining speeches will likely be on Republican side.

So, the vote-o-rama could start tonight and carry over into tomorrow. It's also possible the Republicans could give back their time later too.

The Senate burned through seven of the 20 hours of debate for the reconciliation bill of health-care fixes yesterday. There were no votes, and Republicans have made no parliamentary challenges so far on the floor.

Debate began at 9 a.m. and may stretch late into the evening. Votes are expected this afternoon on amendments offered by Republicans. They offered more than 20 yesterday. At this point, Democrats are not planning to offer any since their goal is not to change the bill.

The Republican amendments run the gamut of substantive, political, and snarky.

Sen. John McCain offered one to eliminate the "sweetheart" deals for individual states that remain in the bill. Sen. Mike Enzi's (R-WY) strip out the employer mandate. A Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) amendment ensures that no person making less than $200,000 is taxed under the new health-care law.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who has offered the most amendments, has one prohibiting coverage of Viagra for child molesters and another that would require all members of Congress to read the reconciliation bill before voting. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) has one that prohibits funding ACORN. And Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) offers one related to gay marriage in Washington, D.C.

But wait there's more. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has one that would require the president, his cabinet, and White House senior staff to purchase insurance through the new exchanges. Coburn has another that allows Americans who like the insurance coverage they have now to keep it and another that says for every new bureaucratic job created as part of the health-care law, another one is eliminated.

The Senate Republican Conference will post the summary and text of amendments as they're called to the floor for consideration.

Did Obama yesterday preview his argument for re-election?... Contrasting how Obama sold the stimulus vs. how he's selling health care… Senate vote-a-rama could begin today on the health reconciliation bill… How much appeal does repeal have?... If you thought health care was tough, just try Middle East peace… And Condi Rice endorsed Carly Fiorina in California's Senate race.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Obama's re-elect argument: Yesterday, did we hear the line that could very well serve as the basis for President Obama's re-election in 2012? Here's what he said in his second event (at the Interior Department) touting the health-care bill he signed into law: "Despite decades in which Washington failed to tackle our toughest challenges, despite the smallness of so much of what passes for politics these days, despite those who said that progress was impossible, you made people believe that people who love this country can still change it." Translation: The health bill largely fulfills his promise of change -- despite his inability to change the tone or the partisan divide in Washington. It's one of those message frames that actually is similar to Bush's in 2004, implying that he's tough even in the face of opposition and that you know where he stands even if you don't always agree with him.

*** Lesson learned: It also appeared yesterday that the White House learned its lesson from how it sold the stimulus a year ago. Here's what President Obama said upon signing it into law: "What makes this recovery plan so important is not just that it will create or save three and a half million jobs over the next two years, including nearly 60,000 in Colorado. It's that we are putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done in critical areas." By comparison, Obama yesterday was much more specific what health reform would mean for Americans, even using the refrain "this year" over and over. "This year, we'll start offering tax credits to about 4 million small businesses to help them cover the cost of coverage," he said. "And that means that folks like Ryan will immediately get a tax break so that he can better afford the coverage he's already providing for his employees."

*** Selling the law: Obama continued, "This year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need… This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people's coverage when they get sick, or place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care they can receive. This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care. And this year, young adults will be able to stay on their parents' policies until they're 26 years old. That all happens this year."

*** The vote-a-rama: The Senate, according to The Hill newspaper, adjourned at 10:30 pm ET last night after completing seven hours (out of the mandatory 20) of debate on the health reconciliation bill. It gets back to business at 9:00 am, and the voting on amendments -- the "vote-a-rama" -- could begin as early as this afternoon. As NBC's Ken Strickland reports, Republicans plan to offer a dozen amendments that are designed to attract Democratic support. Why? Adding an amendment would be a victory of sorts for Republicans, because the reconciliation "fixes" bill would have to go back to the House for another vote. For example, GOP Sen. Tom Coburn is offering one amendment banning erectile dysfunction drugs for sex offenders, and GOP Sen. John McCain is offering one to eliminate any remaining "sweetheart deals" in the health legislation, like the so-called "Louisiana Purchase" benefiting Dem Sen. Mary Landrieu. Strick adds that Republicans also claim they're offering amendments to correct what they see are flaws in the legislation. Many of these amendments are worded so that they can easily be turned into 30-second TV ads.

*** The appeal of repeal? Many of the NRSC's top Senate candidates this cycle have signed the Club for Growth's petition to repeal the health-care law: Kelly Ayotte (NH), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (AR), Trey Grayson/Rand Paul (KY), Mark Kirk (IL), Sue Lowden/Danny Tarkanian (NV), and Pat Toomey (PA). But others haven't: Mike Castle (DE), Dan Coats (IN), John Hoeven (ND), Jane Norton (CO), and Rob Portman (OH). A Coats spokesman tells First Read that the GOP candidate favors repeal but wants to replace it with bipartisan health legislation. Norton also has embraced the "repeal and replace" campaign. But note that there's a big difference between signing the Club petition and arguing for the "softer repeal and replace." Here's how Mitch McConnell is putting it, which appears to be an attempt to have a middle ground on this repeal issue: "No one that I know in the Republican conference in the Senate believes that no action is appropriate. We all think there are things that should be done." 

*** Palin's 20 targets: Sarah Palin isn't only getting into the reality-show business; she's also targeting House Democrats who voted for health care on Sunday night. "We're paying particular attention to those House members who voted in favor of Obamacare and represent districts that Sen. John McCain and I carried during the 2008 election," she wrote on her Facebook page. "Three of these House members are retiring – from Arkansas's 2nd district, Indiana's 8th district, and Tennessee's 6th district – but we'll be working to make sure that those who replace them are Commonsense Conservatives. The others are running for re-election, and we're going to hold them accountable for this disastrous Obamacare vote. They are: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Harry E. Mitchell (AZ-5), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), John Salazar (CO-3), Betsy Markey (CO-4). Allen Boyd (FL-2), Suzanne M. Kosmas (FL-24), Baron P. Hill (IN-9), Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL), Charlie Wilson (OH-6), John Boccieri (OH-16), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Christopher Carney (PA-10), John M. Spratt, Jr. (SC-5), Tom Perriello (VA-5), Alan B. Mollohan (WV-1), and Nick J. Rahall (WV-3)."

*** And you thought health care was tough: While it was under the media's white-hot intensity, last night's meetings between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may have been the most dramatic and important to date. Netanyahu came to the meeting, according to sources, with a list of detailed steps he was willing to take to help jump start the peace process. The White House WASN'T unimpressed with the series of steps. But there is a "trust but verified" aspect to the relationship right now between the two sides. Translation: the U.S. isn't convinced that what Netanyahu says he'll do is what he'll do once he gets back home.

*** Bibi gets a second meeting: And it turns out that Obama had a second meeting with Netanyahu yesterday. Per NBC's Athena Jones, the president met with Netanyahu from 5:34 pm to 7:03 pm ET, but Netanyahu didn't leave the White House until 9:04 pm. So what was he doing for all that time? A White House official responds that Netanyahu requested a second meeting. "After the (initial) meeting, the president went to the residence. PM Netanyahu remained at the White House to consult with his staff in the Roosevelt room. PM Netanyahu requested another meeting with the President, who returned to the Oval office to meet with PM Netanyahu from 8:20pm to 8:55pm." Details of what exactly the two sides are negotiating are being kept close to the vest. We're told talks between the two sides continued well past midnight and will continue this morning on a staff level (those participating on the American side include George Mitchell, Tom Donilon and Dennis Ross). There's optimism on both sides that something about "next steps" can be announced before Netanyahu leaves the country. That said, there was no photo-op or even an official White House photograph of the meeting(s).

*** Midterm news:  In California, Condi Rice has endorsed Carly Fiorina (R)… In Indiana, Hotline reported that Evan Bayh gave $1 million of his campaign cash to help Brad Ellsworth's (D) Senate campaign… In South Carolina, the Dem and GOP gubernatorial candidates participated in a debate on education… And in Utah, state residents took part on their caucuses.

Countdown to IN, NC, and OH primaries: 41 days
Countdown to NE and WV primaries: 48 days
Countdown to AR, KY, OR and PA primaries: 55 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 223 days

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President Obama will "sign an executive order Wednesday reaffirming long-standing restrictions on federal funding of abortion." 

The Washington Post on Obama signing the health-care law into legislation yesterday: "Rich with symbolism and ceremony, the White House event provided clues about how the administration plans to sell the measure to a skeptical public: as a moral necessity of historic proportion. Obama told his audience of allies that 'we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations.' But his central challenge remains convincing an anxious nation that it can afford to help all, even at a time of rising debt, high unemployment and two distant wars. In a 10-minute speech interrupted more than 20 times by ovations, Obama suggested that those Republicans and Democrats who opposed the measure sit now on the wrong side of history. But Republicans have promised to defeat his argument at the ballot box in November and take back those swing-district seats that Obama's once-towering popularity turned Democratic in 2008." 

"[E]ven as hundreds of supporters snapped photographs and savored the climactic moment in the East Room of the White House, Senate Republicans were working to undermine the effort on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue," the Boston Globe writes.

The New York Times' Leonhardt sees the reform as an effort to tackle income inequality. "For all the political and economic uncertainties about health reform, at least one thing seems clear: The bill that President Obama signed on Tuesday is the federal government's biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago. Over most of that period, government policy and market forces have been moving in the same direction, both increasing inequality. The pretax incomes of the wealthy have soared since the late 1970s, while their tax rates have fallen more than rates for the middle class and poor."

"Nearly every major aspect of the health bill pushes in the other direction. This fact helps explain why Mr. Obama was willing to spend so much political capital on the issue, even though it did not appear to be his top priority as a presidential candidate. Beyond the health reform's effect on the medical system, it is the centerpiece of his deliberate effort to end what historians have called the age of Reagan." 

"More Americans now favor than oppose the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds -- a notable turnaround from surveys before the vote that showed a plurality against the legislation. By 49%-40%, those polled say it was "a good thing" rather than a bad one that Congress passed the bill. Half describe their reaction in positive terms -- as 'enthusiastic' or 'pleased' -- while about four in 10 describe it in negative ways, as 'disappointed' or 'angry.'" 

(Caveat: That poll was just a one-day poll.)

The Boston Globe's Lehigh: "As Vice President Joe Biden was caught whispering to his boss, 'This is a big f***ing deal.' Yes indeed… But though Democrats have won the immediate legislative struggle, they haven't yet prevailed in the larger war for national opinion. With the Tea Partiers fuming with anti-government fury, conservative state officials thumping hoary states' rights tubs, Republican congressfolk and presidential hopefuls vowing repeal, and former GOP standard-bearer John McCain threatening an extended senatorial sulk, the public battle promises to rage on. To win the broader victory needed to secure the law, Democrats need to wage a full-scale persuasion campaign. That means repeatedly reminding people of the protections and benefits the new law will bring them."

The New York Post: "Biden #%@s up historic day."

President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had a lengthy meeting at the White House last night. "In a break with custom that seemed linked to the crisis complicating U.S.-Israel relations, reporters were not invited to see them shake hands and begin their talks," the AP writes. "It is highly unusual for a visiting ally not to be seen with the president, either for photographs or statements." More: "Obama and Netanyahu initially conferred for about 90 minutes in the Oval Office -- a half-hour longer than scheduled. After that meeting, Obama retired to the residence while Netanyahu stayed behind in the White House to consult with his staff in the Roosevelt Room, a White House official said late Tuesday. Netanyahu then asked for a second meeting with Obama, who came back downstairs to the Oval Office for another 35 minutes of talks with the prime minister, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic issue."

According to The Hill: "The Senate adjourned late Tuesday night after a chaotic seven hours of debate on a landmark healthcare reform reconciliation bill, with Democratic leaders inching towards a final vote by the end of the week. The chamber adjourned about 10:30 p.m., with plans to reconvene at 9 a.m. Wednesday. In all, the Senate burned up more than seven-and-a-half hours of the 20 mandatory hours of debate required by the reconciliation process."

More: Mary Landrieu went after McCain for an amendment that included the words "sweetheart deal." "It is beneath the senator from Arizona, who at one time was a candidate for president of this country," Landrieu said. "Normally the only time I see the word 'sweetheart' is when my husband sends me a dozen roses on Valentine's Day… To actually draft an amendment like this that uses the words 'sweetheart deal' is really an insult to the people of our country, and I would expect more from him." And remember the "boost in Medicaid funds for Louisiana" she sought, she said, was "at the request of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.)."

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma submitted nine of the 13 amendments, including one banning erectile dysfunction drugs, like Viagra, for sex offenders. The New York Times: "As a result, some amendments will be constructed in an artful way in hopes of making them politically difficult for senators to oppose."

Here are Coburn's amendments from his Web site.

"Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she plans to unveil legislation to add the government-run option to the national healthcare exchange established by legislation President Barack Obama is to sign tomorrow. 'We will introduce a robust public option bill on the very day the president signs the reconciliation bill into law,' Woolsey said Monday during an interview on MSNBC."

And: "Senate Democrats plan another short-term extension of unemployment aid this week, setting up a showdown with Republicans demanding it be paid for," The Hill reports.

FLORIDA: Republican Gov. Charlie Crist released a statement yesterday saying he "fully support[s] Attorney General Bill McCollum's efforts to challenge the Constitutionality of a provision in the bill that mandates all Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine," the Palm Beach Post reports. 

INDIANA: "Retiring Sen. Evan Bayh has donated $1 million to help elect Rep. Brad Ellsworth, who is running to succeed him." 

KENTUCKY: "A grassroots driven Money Bomb for leading Kentucky senate candidate Rand Paul raised well over $100,000 in its first few hours" yesterday, Business Wire reports.

PENNSYLVANIA: "On the day that President Barack Obama signed health care reform legislation, Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican candidate for governor, was slammed by Democrats for his decision to join a lawsuit that calls the bill unconstitutional," the Patriot-News reports. Rep. Joe Sestak said that the decision, "once again places politics over principle." 

SOUTH CAROLINA: "Six of the seven S.C. candidates for governor took on higher education funding, scholarships and the role of state research universities in economic development at a Winthrop University debate Tuesday night," The State newspaper reports. "Rep. Gresham Barrett, another Republican, was in Washington D.C. voting on legislation and missed the debate."

UTAH: "Political veterans, wannabes and newcomers from both sides of the political divide gathered around the state Tuesday evening to take the first steps of the 2010 election season," the Deseret News reports. "Party faithful convened at caucus meetings to elect voting delegates for upcoming county and state conventions -- the gatherings during which office hopefuls are narrowed and ballots determined."

"Democratic and Republican leaders had predicted record turnouts for the meetings, prognostications that seemed to hold up, though the atmosphere of the meetings varied widely." 

From NBC's Ken Strickland
The Senate has begun the reconciliation process on the health-care "fixes" bill. The 20-hour clock begins now.

There are a few certainties about this process, but most of it -- when votes happen, when it ends, etc., -- are unknown and will play out in its own way.

We do expect some votes today. However, most of the votes -- dozens of votes -- will happen at the end of the debate in what is commonly referred to as the "vote-o-rama," back-to-back votes with a couple of minutes of debate in between. 

Here is your talking points memo, and users' guide:

-- A reconciliation (recon) bill cannot be filibustered. It takes only 51 votes for passage. The only 60-vote threshold in the entire process is to override the parliamentarian. (More on that below.)

-- The goal for Democrats is to pass the bill without any changes -- nothing taken out, nothing added. If there is a single change -- even a minor one -- it goes back to the House for another vote. Democrats will need to defeat every single amendment and have the Senate parliamentarian rule in their favor every time. History suggests it's a tall order.

-- Recon rules require 20 hours of debate, equally divided (10 for Democrats, 10 for Republicans). Time can be yielded back, making it shorter. The 20 hours can be spread out over a few days, and likely will. But we expect some very late nights too.

-- An unlimited number of amendments can be offered, and Republicans say they plan to offer plenty. Votes on some of those amendments may happen within that 20 hours. But most will happen after the debate in the "vote-o-rama". Amendments pass with a simple 51-vote majority. Democrats, with 59 in their caucus, can afford to lose as many as nine people on each amendment and bring in Biden to break a tie if needed.

At some point after dozens of votes, Democrats may ask the parliamentarian to rule that Republicans are being "dilatory" or stalling with endless amendments. A favorable ruling could end the amendment process and move to the final vote.

-- Under the rules of recon, every section of the bill must have a budgetary impact. Republicans can offer 19 different objections ("points of order") to make sure every provision of the bill meets that test. The Senate parliamentarian decides what stays in or is cut out. Points of order can remove specific sections of the bill, or essentially kill it. If the parliamentarian agrees with Republicans and strips something out, Democrats will need 60 votes to overrule and keep it in. Obviously, Democrats only have 59, while Republicans have vowed to hold their group together.

From NBC's Athena Jones
In a jubilant ceremony before a packed East Room audience, President Obama today used 20 pens to sign landmark legislation extending health-care coverage to 32 million Americans.

Saying he was signing the bill into law on behalf of his late mother and millions of others who had fought with insurers over coverage, Obama also invoked past leaders who had worked to overhaul the system from the Clintons to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, whose wife Vicki, son Patrick, and niece Caroline were in the audience.

Also on hand for the event were Democratic leaders from both houses of Congress -- many of whom excitedly posed for pictures with one another before the event began -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (whose agency will be in charge of implementing the changes in the bill), and Connie Anderson (the sister of a Ohio woman who became the White House's symbol for ordinary people facing sky-rocketing premiums after writing to the president late last year).

"The bill I'm signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for, and marched for, and hungered to see," the president said. "Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it's been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing."

The White House has couched the battle to pass legislation overhauling the nation's health care system in historic terms, comparing it to the fight to pass Social Security, Medicare, and the Civil Rights legislation. Today's ceremony marked a major step, because the health-care bill became law the moment the president signed it, even though the Senate must still take up and pass a package of fixes to it.

The boisterous crowd frequently interrupted the president with applause, chanting "Nancy" when he thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, cheering loudly for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and giving a standing ovation to Nancy-Ann DeParle, a top health adviser to the president.

After the East Room signing ceremony, the president traveled to the Department of the Interior to deliver a speech on the health care bill before some 600 people, including members of Congress, Cabinet and other administration officials, health-care advocates, doctors, nurses, and people who wrote letters to the president about their health care challenges.

In fact, one of the women who wrote to the president, Dawn Stone, is from Brooklyn, IA, which is some 50 miles from Iowa City, where the president is scheduled to hold a health-care rally on Thursday. Stone and her husband dropped their coverage after losing their jobs and ended up with $100,000 in medical debt after her husband fell ill.

The afternoon speech, which Obama said was to thank supporters of the health-care bill, marked the sixth off-campus event where the president has promoted health care in the past few weeks.

"After a century of striving, after a year of debate after a historic vote, health care reform is no longer an unmet promise, it is the law of the land," he said."

Now that the bill has passed, the White House is focused on selling it to voters since many Democrats who voted for the bill face tough re-election battles in the fall. Obama often describes the legislation as a victory for the American people over insurers and the White House believes the bill's passage could put Democrats in a good place politically if they can explain to voters what their party voted to support -- a ban on lifetime coverage limits, a requirement that insurance companies cover people with pre-existing conditions, prescription-drug help for seniors, expanding coverage -- and what the other side voted against.

"Now let me tell you what change looks like, because those fighting change are still out there, still making a lot of noise about what this reform means," the president said as he laid out these measures and called on people to go to www.whitehouse.gov or any "credible" news organization's website to learn more what the bill will mean for them.

The president said there was still much work to be done to rebuild the economy and improve the education. Among the administration's other big goals are comprehensive immigration and energy legislation, new rules of the road to govern the financial system, and finding ways to mitigate a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing companies to contribute directly to political campaigns.

"We all know our journey is far from over," he said, arguing that passing this legislation was a good step toward those goals. "As we tackle all these other challenges we face, as we continue on this journey, we can take our next steps with new confidence, with a new wind at our backs, because we know it's still possible to do big things in America."

From NBC's Alicia Jennings, Scott Foster and Domenico Montanaro
Agree or disagree with the policy, no one's disputing that the passage of health care is a big deal.

Vice President Biden certainly thinks so.

A replay of the tape reveals that after Biden introduced the president in the East Room, while embracing him, he tells Obama, "This is a big f---ing deal."

Obama nods his head with a somewhat impatient look and takes the podium.

Watch for video coming soon.

*** UPDATE *** White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tweets, "And yes Mr. Vice President, you're right."

*** UPDATE 2 *** Click here for the video.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Post-health-care-bill signing, AP's Liz Sidoti asks, "Is this the 'change' voters believe in?"

"Details aside, the president kept his overall pledge to overhaul health care even as he trampled on his other vow to break a decades-old partisan logjam, to do things differently in Washington. He maintained the appearance of bipartisanship; he held a meeting with Republicans and Democrats, included GOP amendments in the final measure and allowed senators to work for weeks on a bipartisan bill last year. ...

"He promised change; we got change.

"Like it or not."

From NBC's Mark Murray
More evidence that Sarah Palin won't be running for president? Variety reports:

Discovery Communications is expected to announce that it has won the Sarah Palin tourney. The cabler had been a front-runner to land the untitled Alaska-themed series, to be produced by Mark Burnett Prods., along with A&E...

"Sarah Palin's Alaska" will center on interesting characters, traditions and attractions in the 49th state -- with the ex-VP candidate as a guide. Burnett and Palin pitched the show to all four major networks -- but given the travelogue nature of the series, cable expressed more interest in the project.

Of course, wouldn't a better name for the show be, "Pallin' around with the Palins"?

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Massachusetts Congressman Michael Capuano is known for his strong opinions.

And in a hearing on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sitting about 100 feet from Randy Neugebauer -- the Texas congressman who shouted "baby killer" during Sunday's health care vote -- Capuano just couldn't help himself.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

"My emotions might overcome me and I might be tempted to scream out that someone, or something or some group of people might be a 'homeownership killer' if they got rid of Fannie and Freddie," Capuano said.

Neugebauer didn't respond to the barb, which caused a surprised gasp from both Republican and Democratic staff members, who briefly dropped their practiced straight-ahead gaze.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
We noted in First Thoughts the Republicans' dilemma in response to health care's passage: "What do they do now they've lost? Launch a full repeal campaign (as many Republicans like McCain are advocating), or steer a more pragmatic course (as David Frum is arguing)?"

But Rep. Darrel Issa, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, had this response to Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, per the Huffington Post (the story, by the way, was sent around by Issa's staff):

"A former staffer, and you're calling it credible?" Issa said. "We have an obligation to vote, at the end of the day, based on whether we believe it's the right direction, the wrong direction, not withstanding some former Bush staffer. Remember, President Bush was the administration that got us voted out of office. They were the big spenders. So the credibility of the Bush administration on domestic economic policy ain't so good, period. And this is an unaccountable person."

"When you are a staffer, you're unaccountable," Issa went on. "When you're a former staffer, you're really unaccountable. The way it's supposed to work, and the way it does work, when it works, is if you make a good suggestion in the form of an amendment, it is adopted. Good ideas by the controlling party should be incorporated because they're good for America. And to say 'I will only incorporate your good idea if you vote for the bill' is logrolling. It's a quid pro quo, and is tantamount to a bribe. Is that what you're asking for?"