Dems To Oppose The Most Alluring Of GOP Reconciliation Amendments

Democrats in the Senate say they are so committed to passing the House's version of health care reconciliation fixes verbatim, that they are willing to vote against even the most alluring and unobjectionable of amendments -- from legislation banning Viagra for sex offenders to language adding the long-elusive public option.

In what is the final act of the health care reform saga, the Senate on Tuesday began debating reconciliation fixes that the House of Representatives passed two days prior. The process includes a period of what could be unlimited amendments, during which it is widely expected that Republicans will try their best to get the legislation changed.

The idea is that by securing even a slight adjustment in the language, the Senate will have to send the bill back to the House of Representatives for reconsideration. Drawing out the process makes it more likely for it to be tripped up.

On Tuesday, the GOP put its strategy into action, with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okl.) introducing an amendment beyond agreeable. Titled "No Erectile Dysfunction Drugs To Sex Offenders" it would literally prohibit convicted child molesters, rapists, and sex offenders from getting erectile dysfunction medication from their health care providers.

While it will undoubtedly be difficult for Democrats to vote against the measure (one can conjure up the campaign ads already), the party plans to do just that.

"Democrats in the Senate are very unified that this is not going back to the House," Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) told the Huffington Post on Tuesday, minutes before the Coburn amendment was introduced.

Just how unified? If Republicans, in a bit of legislative trickery, offer an amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill that allows for the establishment of a public option for insurance coverage, Democrats -- despite longing for the proposal for more than a year -- won't even take the bait.

"We would know it is a game," Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) told the Huffington Post. "We would vote against it. It is that simple."

Comments

[AmericanDreamWarrior]

02:41 PM on 03/24/2010

So the repubs want to mess with the bill so that it will go back to the house in hopes that it will get blown out, knowing that there's the "risk" that we'll get a public option as a direct result of their actions, so they can then turn around and run on repealing it? That makes so little sense. Wonder how they're going to spin that lil nugget?

[SeanFromIT]

12:40 PM on 03/24/2010

Wake up - HR 4872 needs amended. Not for the healthcare stuff, but for the education reform stuff. This is critical. It includes wording to remove subsidies to private loan providers. That's all fine and well, but Section 2214 of the bill - the section previously touted by the Young Democrats to help those of us currently drowning in student loan debt - only reduces payments and payment maximum terms for "New borrowers on and after July 1, 2014." Other wording earlier in the bill suggests that Federal consolidation loans may not be available for current borrowers come 2014, thus making us ineligible to become a "new borrower." This is unacceptable. If you find problems with this, you should contact your Senators immediately. If it's not taken care of now, Dems might think they actually helped the student loan crisis and forget about making any more changes! One bounce back to the House only for the education part of the bill won't hurt!

[unite4change]

12:09 PM on 03/24/2010

I'm so glad the America people have been watching. Now we see the GOP are good liars, and tactisians but poor legislators. They do not care about the America people and never have.

[canuck1929]

09:04 AM on 03/25/2010

What is the matter with you?
Are in favor of paying for Viagra for sex offenders, rapists and pedophiles who have erectile dysfunction?
That's what's in the bill right now!
The GOP are not lying about that and are making the Dems. record their vote for admending this absolutely outrageous provision.
Can't you see that?

[jackbutler5555]

11:15 AM on 03/24/2010

1. Vote the amendment down, forcing the Republicans to record their vote for the amendment..

2. Reintroduce the good amendments as separate bills, forcing the GOP to vote against them

3. Point out that the GOP was for them before they were against them. This would prevent the GOP from exploiting them in future campaigns.

[WryAwry]

11:11 AM on 03/24/2010

Good. You GO, Dems.

Repugnantcan'ts. Phoaquemal.

[mikerobjohn]

09:47 AM on 03/24/2010

The Dems response sould be that we have included over 170 GOP ideas in the bill and this is just another political STUNT by a bunch of sore losers!

[HopeGrenade]

09:36 AM on 03/24/2010

...No viagra for se.x offenders?

Are you joking? Yes, I'm positive that a person about to commit a se.xual assault will look down at their pants and go "Oh. Well, I guess not today."

[christopherflynn]

11:16 AM on 03/24/2010

"No viagra for se.x offenders?
the "pubs" would never vote for that....... ;)

[jeremyfive]

09:35 AM on 03/24/2010

Banish Acorn, as David Vitter wants, I say! Then Repug Senator David Vitter can get back to thrusting his weiner into prostitutes illegally, without the distraction.

[MalteseTiger]

12:27 PM on 03/24/2010

Acorn's already going down in flames.. they need no more assistance

[barksalot]

08:25 AM on 03/24/2010

All duly noted for November.

[VPN]

09:21 AM on 03/24/2010

Get a grip cause it ain't gonna be like YOU think it will be.

[dems4life]

10:38 AM on 03/24/2010

Stay strong Mr. President for WHO GOD BLESS NO MAN CAN CURSE

[willhe]

07:06 AM on 03/24/2010

if i was the republican i would throw medicare for all in as and make them vote against it lol

[pvbeachbum]

08:06 AM on 03/24/2010

get a grip. viagra for sex offenders? yet another travesty in this healthcare bill. almost as bad as the seiu bribe.

[cbat]

08:17 AM on 03/24/2010

There is no vigara for sex offenders stated in the bill, this is just another sad attempt by Republicans to start the process over. If sex offenders wanted vigara, they can get if in the black market. Please do not be fooled into thinking the republicans actually care.

If the HCR so offends your politicial sensibilities, please feel free NOT to take advantage of its benefit for your family.

[RBLRDR]

08:26 AM on 03/24/2010

Anyone can but generic Viagra online without a prescription. This is an all smoke and mirrors attempt to delay the amendments.

[foolme1ns]

06:36 AM on 03/24/2010

Well it looks like democrats can learn after all!!! Who woulda thunki it. How many admendments did the republicans put into the first bill and then vote against it. Apparently the republicans think that they are Lucy and the Democrats are Charlie Brown. Only Charlie isn't going to play that game. Republicans just want to snatch that ball out from under the Democrats one more time.

Good on the Democrats. You can't trust a Republican!!! Just remember that.

[Shozen]

05:59 AM on 03/24/2010

Wouldn't it be ironic if we get a public option because it gets added as a Republican policy?

[willhe]

07:07 AM on 03/24/2010

lol.... you beat me to it

[Dave4ObamaSinceDay1]

09:17 AM on 03/24/2010

If offered by GOP, the PO would not be in the correct legislative language for reconciliation anyway....

[Miyake]

05:16 AM on 03/24/2010

What can we expect from the Republicans? No surprise here.

[dems4life]

10:38 AM on 03/24/2010

Stay strong Mr. President for WHO GOD BLESS NO MAN CAN CURSE

[NWBrunette]

04:07 AM on 03/24/2010

Sounds like the repubs will get a nice jump on some juicy campaign ads... that will fool the usual number of neuron-deprived voters.

[VPN]

09:26 AM on 03/24/2010

Too bad Ivan Pavlov isn't around to see how well his research on conditional reflex is being used by the republickers on their sheeple followers.

[HopeGrenade]

10:18 AM on 03/24/2010

Fun fact: Number of neurons does not correlate with intelligence.

[yweston]

03:14 AM on 03/24/2010

Why weren't Republicans offering these proposals in the original Bill. Instead of running around "waving" it in the air claiming it's too long to read. Isn't that when they should have pushed for these reforms. Viagra and Public Option. Just "games" games" games". They "gamed" themselves out of becoming a part of the most important legislation in 50 years and didn't learn a thing. Still acting "st00pid" and threatening more obstruction.

[Domenica Iacovone]

03:23 AM on 03/24/2010

I want to see how they propose that they run criminal checks on every male with a prescription for it....

Do they put a LEADS system in every pharmacy? Or are they going to get more money to law enforcement departments that run LEADS to fund the overload of work?

[michaelmr]

08:53 AM on 03/24/2010

The same way the DoD will do checks on contractors to see if they have nonarbitration clauses in their contracts with their individual company. That is what Franken did, then claimed that the Republicans voted against rape victims.