Republicans Cave on Majority Vote for Health Care and Waste Senate Time Instead
The Senate was set to vote last night on whether or not a minority of Senators could block health care reform using a process called budget reconciliation.
The way it was supposed to work was this: Republicans were going to offer an amendment to tell the Senators negotiating a deal on the budget with the House not to use reconciliation for health care, just like they offered similar amendments around global warming. The vote was going to be a referendum on reconciliation - if it passed, the Senate would have clearly stated that it wants to allow a minority to filibuster health care reform. If it failed, the Senate would be declaring its intention to allow health reform to move forward on a simple majority vote.
This vote was supposed to happen late last night, but Republicans caved.
They caved under intense grassroots pressure from progressives across the country, with groups like Health Care for America Now, MoveOn.org, and the Rebuild and Renew America coalition asking their supporters to make thousands of calls to the Senate. As a result, the amendment was never offered because the GOP knew they didn't have the votes to pass it.
Instead of letting the Senate vote on whether a minority of Senators should be allowed to block health care reform, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), who's received over $1.4 million in donations from the health care industry, dodged the question and wasted the Senate's time by offering a pointless amendment opposing "socialized medicine." Here is what the DeMint amendment called for:
- Preserve the ability of Americans to keep their health plan;
- Preserve their choice of doctor, and;
- Prevent them from being shifted from private health insurance into government-managed and government-rationed health care.
Of course, all of this rhetoric is meaningless after you realize that every health care plan being proposed offers people a choice between keeping the health insurance they have or choosing a new public health insurance option. Choice of doctor and health plan would be preserved, and nobody would be shifted to any health care plan against their will.
Despite DeMint's time wasting, the House and the Senate have reportedly announced a deal on the budget that includes reconciliation for health care, under intense pressure from Senate leadership and the White House [via CQ, no link, though Washington Post is now reporting the same deal]:
The inclusion of reconciliation instructions for the health care and student loan initiatives will be a sore spot for Republicans. The fast-track procedure will make the resulting bills immune to filibuster in the Senate, significantly reducing the GOP's leverage.
Democrats contend they only want to use reconciliation as a fallback option and would prefer to move health care through the regular order. Republicans are highly skeptical the fast-track process won't be used if available.
Republicans are threatening to shut down the Senate if reconciliation is used, though yesterday, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) undercut the entire GOP argument that reconciliation is unfair, saying Democrats have a "right" to use reconciliation for health care because Democrats won the election.
It all comes down to this: Because of grassroots pressure, Republicans didn't have the votes to block reconciliation for health care. Republicans are threatening procedural war, but it looks very likely that a minority of Senators will not be able to block health care reform this time. And so the GOP has a choice: They can work with Democrats in good faith (something they have declined to do so far), or they can be ignored as Democrats pass the health reform this country so desperately needs with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
Either way, progressives won a victory last night, and we're one step closer to winning quality, affordable health care for all.
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The best and also the simplest solution for all; and it works everywhere.
http://www
And the solution supported by a majority of Americans and their physicians!! Single payer improved Medicare for all.
Yes!
It kills me to hear that Republicans moan about government health care. What do they think they and their families have. Health care paid by the Government. If its good for them its good for everyone.
I think the Democrats should tell the Republicans that the Health Care that comes out of Congress is going to be the Healthcare that all House and Senate members will receive, including their families. Let's see how much they want to cut out and water it down if it is going to affect them directly.
I'm with you, Xenopus!
Id love to see that, but that would kill the bill in its tracks. Neither party would agree to that.
Stolen from Kingston Trio: Socialize medicine; we've got an axe to wield. Stamp out Blue Cross & Blue Shield.
Great! I want Sweden's healthcare program. Which includes massage. Massage works better than any drug could for back problems, muscle problems, spasms, relaxation, & stress. A gym with a pool & massage therapy would knock out half the poisionous drugs Americans are being given to cover the problem instead of curing it.
Jon Stewart did a great story about Sweden.
....includ
Well, let's see here. The South Carolina Senator is trying to stop health care reform, the South Carolina Governor is refusing to accept funds for unemplyment benefits for unemployed in South Carolina, and now there has been huge fires causing masive damage in that state.
A christian conservative would have to wonder if the man upstairs is sending South Carolina a message about their unchristian ways.
"A christian conservative would have to wonder if the man upstairs is sending South Carolina a message about their unchristian ways."
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No, that only happens when gays are allowed to get married. Oh oops, gays started getting married in California last year, and the man upstairs flooded the Midwest. Hmmmmmm, I wonder if the man upstairs has a problem with geography.
"The rain falls on the just and unjust alike." The "god complex" went out of style decades ago.
April 24, 2009 09:06 AM PDT
HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to reimburse costs to the state of South Carolina to fight the Highway 31 fire in Horry County.
April 24, 2009 01:21 PM PDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford is not backing down from his proposal to trim $1 million in state spending from wildfire fighting, even as damages mount in a fire near Myrtle Beach.
Repubs will never support universal healthcare because then all they wll have to run on is taking away you new universal healtcare.
When european countries enacted universal healthcare they kneecapped the conservatives for decades. Only now are u seeing the conservatives reae their heads - like the PM of Czech Repub
Let me give you a reality check. The US is the ONLY...the O.N.L.Y civilized country without universal health care! Not just democratic country, not just western country. The only civilized country. So if you want to try find an angle to argue that pathetic fact good luck trying to hold up Somalia as an example.
Neither will O. He took almost 19 mil from the Health Care industry. He took in 14 mil from the Financial Services Industry. Who has benefited from that? The people or the ban ksters with trillions in unaccounted for handouts and nice fat WH protected bon uses? 19 mil will buy the Health Care Industry the same benefits unless you watch them like a hawk. He's a politician just like any other.
http://www
Pensions, job security and health care for the wealthy and the government only.
With all the job losses, and people loosing their health insurance.
take away their health care for them and their families, and do not let them even purchase healthcare until we are all covered.
I will be damned if my employees - incompetent employess have better health care than me.
That is the way to look at it, glad some of you see it.
Tricare is a great plan, it covers almost everything and anything, I wish I had that choice.
What,exactly, is 'pointless' about DeMint's amendment? Do YOU want to be pushed into government rationed health-care?
It's pointless because nobody is trying to do that. Such things are not even remotely a part of any of the options for moving forward with health care, that are on the table. DeMint's amendment, like your post, is purely an expression of paranoia, and nothing else. You guys are all mentally ill, at best (and deeply disingenuous, more likely, especially in the case of DeMint).
See Jason Rosenbaum's Profile
Bingo
It is pointless because no one is going to do that. The phrase "government rationed health-care" is a Limbaugh/H
nothing will be rationed. This is not single payer. You will keep you current health insurance, you current doctors, etc.
The only thing pointless in this whole debate is republican input.
So, how rich are you? millions? billions?
If "pointless" doesn't work for you, how about completely "redundant" and totally "disingenuous" because he knows EVERYONE is in agreement with those three points. He's trying to scare people with a bogeyman and you're buying it.
Personally, I cannot wait for the CHOICE of a public not-for-profit plan.
Politically, it's going to be at least as good as what members of the House and Senate offer themselves.
It means I will not be stuck or dependent on a particular job for health insurance.
I will not have my claims denied after the fact or sued to a health insurance company after they've already paid me because they've decided they no longer wish to pay for treatment they previously agreed to pay.
My premium will go into the dispensation of health care as opposed to corporate profits or unwarranted health insurance CEO bonuses.
My not-for-profit plan will negotiate lower costs for everyone by bargaining with pharmaceutical copanies.
To quote a President who lied the nation into war, "Bring It On!"
You and me both. I think most people will find it a viable option, especially considering what the insurance companies are considering "preexisisting conditions" these days. Need eye surgery, oh we're sorry, you had a bloody nose in 1976 that you forgot to tell us about. Need a knee replaced, oh we're sorry, you had a yeast infection in the late 80s that you neglected to mention, thereby nullifying your entire health insurance policy. There is even a FAUX "news" employee who can't get coverage through their plan because of a preexisting condition. This has got to stop. And I think a public not-for-profit plan is the perfect alternative for those people who wish to be a part of it. Keep in mind, it is also going to emphasize preventative care which, over time, will save a boatload of $$$.
The Repugs have made it clear that they are going to fight anything and everything the Dems propose. In a Democracy you accept the will of the people, as expressed by elections, not bully,lie and cheat to the detriment of the whole country because your side lost. Obama and the Dems have tried to work with them. They in turn try to block cabinet appointments and legislation, despite the obvious need to move quickly, largely due to the raping and pillaging of the country they helped Bush/Cheney perpetrate. Obama , has shown more patience than they deserve. A majority of the votes (reconcilliation) is all that is needed. It's time to take back the country from a bunch of punk thugs.
Well, let's see here. The South Carolina Senator is trying to stop health care reform, the South Carolina Governor is refusing to accept funds for unemplyment benefits for unemployed in South Carolina, and now there has been huge fires causing masive damage in that state.
A christian conservative would have to wonder if the man upstairs is sending South Carolina a message about their unchristian ways.
Don't know if the fires could be that kind of "repent" message from above, but I'm sure they will inspire the Governor to ask for federal funds to repair the damage they've done....fu
And I mean "you" only in the rhetorical sense, not you personally, roudy!
The Obama Can-do-Train is on the move, Republicans get on or get out the way. I love our Great President; I love our Great Country; Life is good again and it will be Great when we have Universal Healthcare.
Why does the Senate have this silly 60 vote rule?
not really a rule. The rethugs have vowed to block (filibuster) everything the president and the MAJORITY wants to do. it takes 60 to break a filibuster (end "debate"), and thus get tings done.
The Senate started it back in the days of slavery in order to make sure that "them Yankees" did not interfere with their "property" rights.
"And so the GOP has a choice: They can work with Democrats in good faith (something they have declined to do so far), or they can be ignored as Democrats pass the health reform this country so desperately needs with a simple majority vote in the Senate."
And will the author be demanding that the Democrats work with the Republicans in good faith (something that they have also declined to do so far), or will they simply cram a bill full of payouts to special interests through the Senate because they can? I have seen this show before, it was called the last 8 years. I've seen no signs that anyone has learned from it, this seems to be the same thing on repeat, just with different actors.
Haven't really been paying attention much the last 95+ days have you sweepstop?
Have you? The bank bailouts (pretty obvious), the media industries (the RIAA is extremely well represented among US Attorneys), HITECH Act (padding the pockets of a Chicago trade consortium), ... I would really like to believe this isn't politics as usual.
Sock it to 'em, Obama. You are the man. The GOP does not know what has hit them. I just hope they are reduced in number even more in next year's election. If people are paying attention, more of the GOP congressmen will be retired.
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