The Health Care "Shell" Game Begins

The American Spectator ^ | 3.15.10 | Philip Klein

[BarnacleCenturion]

Shortly before midnight on Sunday, Democrats released a 2,309 page health care bill that will start the process of reconciliation -- but don't let that fool you, it's not the actual reconciliation bill with all the changes you've been reading about. Instead, as Rep. Paul Ryan, the ranking Republican member on the Budget Committee, explained to me last week, this is just the "shell" bill -- the vehicle that Democrats need to get moving on health care. Once the bill gets approved (likely Monday), Democrats will send this phantom bill over to the Rules Committee, where it will be stripped, and then they'll insert in all of the actual changes that they've negotiated.

[Man50D]

Except that precedent has already been established with such programs as Social Security and Medicare.,

Setting precedent by unconstitutional acts does not suddenly make future unconstitutional acts Constitutional! It's all the more reason we demand to the federal government eliminating past unconstitutional acts!

Don't look for the SC to declare it unconstitutional. They may strike down a few provisions at a time, but if it passes Congress, it will be law.

I look to the people. The people are the government and dictate how they will be governed. Congress operates at the consent of the governed.

[sam_paine]

Do you really think there aren’t enough willing people among them to stop this by occupying and disrupting the House chamber?

Yes. This website is proof that you can't herd that many cats in one direction.

[chilltherats]

Well, we herded what? Thirty? Forty? Fifty? A hundred thousand people to the capitol mall from all over the country. So you don’t know what you’re talking about.

[xkaydet65]

The House still MUST pass the Senate Bill,UNCHANGED, before any reconciliation can begin. The Senate Parliamentarian also said a bill MUST be signed into law before reconciliation can start.

[sam_paine]

A hundred thousand people to the capitol mall from all over the country. So you don’t know what you’re talking about.

100k to the mall, and you think that translates into people storming armed capitol police to disrupt the chambers of congress!?

Who's the fool?

[longtermmemmory]

The useful idiots of ALL the neteworks are INVESTED in Obama bassing communism in the USA. They MSM sees this as THEIR JOB security.

Remember MSNBC was CHEERING at barakopolis. CHEERING WITH THE CROWD.

[Cheerio]

Remember MSNBC was CHEERING at barakopolis. CHEERING WITH THE CROWD.

And wasn't crissy Mathews who said "It is my job to see that this historical black President succeed?

[b4its2late]

The Budget Committee hearing on the “shell” bill is underway.

[Presto]

Republicans can easily destroy the “health care reform” bill right now; if they will but repeatedly and emphatically declare:

IT WILL KILL OUR STRUGGLING ECONOMY.

If every prominent Republican who attends a presser or gives an interview emphasizes that one crystallized point, the political pressure and citizenry push-back against wavering Democrats in the House will be enormous and irresistible.

ECONOMY KILLER equals JOBS KILLER. And the case can easily and succinctly be made that this new, massively unfunded entitlement will require massive new taxes while hobbling the medical industry. That’s obviously an economy killer.
As unpopular as this piece of crap bill is, it can immediately be made much more so with clarion emphasis regarding its destructiveness to the economy.

The American people already hate what the bill stands for (the perceived substance of the bill) as well as hate the corrupt process that has produced it. Now it needs to be branded into the national psyche that the bill will obviously cause long-term, personal financial pain.

[Siena Dreaming]

Republicans can easily destroy the “health care reform” bill right now; if they will but repeatedly and emphatically declare:

The Repubs have been saying this all along.

But it's not like they have control over an uncontested megaphone.

Problem is...the other side also "repeatedly and emphatically" declares the opposite. Thus the confusion in the electorate (but it does appear the Repubs are winning in their message since a majority opposes the bill).

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

What you are reading is going to be erased, and replaced with new language. Did you read the article you posted? Even the snippet describes that the what is now available for reading is NOT what is going to be proposed for passage.

The same thing happened in the senate amnesty bill in 2007. They used an old bill structure and replaced the whole thing. Meanwhile FReepers kept commenting on the old text. When I pointed out what was going on, they called me a newbie troll.

[STARWISE]

Live on CSPAN and CSPAN3 ... and online

http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx

Live on CSPAN2 - %17.6 Billion Dollar Jobs Bill .. and online

http://cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

[JustPiper]

I’ve been watching that, but I can’t believe FR didn’t have a LIVE thread

[fightinJAG]

Paul Ryan’s statement today on reconciliation and the shell game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLITGkcwZIA

[STARWISE]

Maybe this can be the LIVE thread .. ?

[El Gato]

You write a long-winded email — same thing. A simple chicken scratch.

Some lady calls up about wearing her dead sister’s teeth and has the same impact.

No, her complaint gets blasted from coast to coast. She has a lot more impact.

[JustPiper]

They said they were going to midnite if they have to, but this committee today on Reconciliation Bill Markup, The Dems in the House Budget Comm LOSING

[JustPiper]

THE PATRIOTIC RESISTANCE (Make this VIRAL)

http://www.resistnet.com/

This site sends emails to all 58 blue dogs and a separate email to your congressman. You can change the email to your own words. Just click and you’re done. There are 15,000 people on SGP alone. Keep the emails flowing into their congressional offices. We beat Acorn, Organizing for America, and SEIU in Massachusetts - let’s win again!!!!

http://www.capitolconnect.com/freeourhealthcarenow/default.aspx

Also call the blue dog toll free number and leave a message:
1-866-220-0044

[STARWISE]

What’s the Motion to Suspend the Rules and
Agree As Amended ?? Pubs and Dems are voting yea

[onyx]

Try wiki