It looks like Democrats will likely bypass the usual conference committee to blend the House and Senate versions of DeathCare. Why? They don’t want those pesky Republicans (or the American people) to have an influence.
EXCLUSIVE: Dems ‘Almost Certain’ to Bypass Conference
Now that both the House and Senate have passed health care reform bills, all Democrats have to do is work out a compromise between the two versions. And it appears they’re not about to let the Republicans gum up the works again.
According to a pair of senior Capitol Hill staffers, one from each chamber, House and Senate Democrats are “almost certain” to negotiate informally rather than convene a formal conference committee. Doing so would allow Democrats to avoid a series of procedural steps–not least among them, a series of special motions in the Senate, each requiring a vote with full debate–that Republicans could use to stall deliberations, just as they did in November and December.
Yeah, that’s a perfectly ethical way to proceed when the American people by a massive majority don’t support what you’re doing, you’re dealing with changing a 1/3 of the American economy, while simultaneously bankrupting the nation.
There goes that New Years Resolution to have the Most Transparent Congress Ever. Oh well, now that the administration has been in place for a year, I’m sure that they will no longer blame Bush for anything, so my second New Years Resolution will be safe. What?
As sleazy as this is, there IS an upside. This is the way many state legislatures operate on most legislation rather than appointing formal conferees.
The Senate bill will go over to the House. I think the chances that the House passes the Senate bill as-is are next to zero, given the narrow margin by which the House passed its own bill. Therefore, the House will amend the Senate bill, send it back to the Senate, and ask that the Senate concur in its amendments. Because the bill is not a conference report, every time the bill goes back and forth, further amendments to it are in order again, and in the Senate, cloture is again required on each amendment as well as on final passage. The Dems are risking more than they realize by doing this. At least, I certainly hope so.
Unfortunately, I think the Dems. are going to vote to pass either one of the bills as is, because they know they all want the same things with “healthcare reform.” Every Dem knows that if they vote for a bill…any bill, they have won what they wanted all along—control over us. They have that “starter home” and then they will then begin to “tweak” things later after it is signed into law. They will put everything they want into this new system, once it is signed into law.
Nothing they have done all year is constitutional, so why worry about pesky rules, when they are so close to their wet dream of taxing and controlling everyone? This makes me especially sick today, because I am getting back into national news, after having had a no news/politics holiday break. I read Sarah Palin’s book and felt renewed hope and energy.
I pray everyday that we make it to Nov. 2010 elections with our country still in tact. WE MUST REVERSE THIS!!!!
This whole thing has ben sleazy from begining to end. I do not want ths thing to pass. As someone who is dependant on medicine to keep me alive I’m very worried. I sure hope that neither the house or the senate can pass the other’s bill and if that fails I sure hope this is ruled unconstitutional.
Perhaps a tiny bit off topic, but have you seen this, Tammy?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbqhl8_america-rising-an-open-letter-to-de_news
But wait, wait, wait. The Botox Biddy said in a press conference that, “There has never been a more open process for any legislation.” If the Dictatoress of the House says so, it must be so…
Seriously, that woman has really lost it. It be great if she fell at the height of her hubris, because I don’t think she’s reached it, yet. And may it happen, soon.
Very soon!