Posted on 03/17/2010 7:36:24 AM PDT by SmithL
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday traded fire with Republicans over a procedural rule that would allow House members to pass sweeping health care changes without a direct up-or-down vote on the Senate-passed version of the legislation.
Republicans are riveting their fire on the maneuver - which could marry Senate health care legislation that some of her members don't like with "fixes" that they do - as possibly their last chance to stop the nearly $1 trillion, 10-year plan as it nears a make-or-break vote as soon as this weekend.
The vote promises to be extremely close, and Pelosi has made clear that it will be a decisive test of party loyalty for all Democrats.
"We will do what is necessary to pass a bill," the San Francisco Democrat said at a news conference with advocates for the elderly.
Waving a sheaf of papers that she said she got from a friend in San Francisco who was in the Johnson administration when Medicare was passed in 1965, she said the vote tallies then showed how Republicans tried to kill Medicare on a procedural motion and succeeded at one point.
Democratic leaders "then went through the sheets with the names of the members and all the rest," she said, and "ended up with a victory at the end."
The Senate has passed the underlying legislation, and if Pelosi can corral 216 votes to pass that same legislation in the House, it would go to President Obama for his signature and become the law of the land.
If she can't get the 216 votes, Democrats will have to decide whether to use the controversial rule, which Pelosi said would "deem" the Senate bill passed when the House approves the changes it wants.
Under the Constitution, both chambers must pass identical bills.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Call these so-called moderate Democrats who were called to the White House to be pressured to vote YES, and tell them that any vote for ObamaCare will cost them their jobs:
___________________________________
I found yesterday, just as an FYI to everyone, that while the main switchboards and the Washington phone numbers for these folks were busy, their local offices were not as overwhelmed. I got through within 1 or 2 tries to every single person by googling them and clicking on office locations. That’s where I’d try first ~ it has the same effect as those local offices sure as heck are reporting via email to the DC offices!
Thanks! bttt
They are going to push too far, enter the realm of anti democratic, totalitarian behavior, and then reap the whirlwind accordingly. How foolish of the not to see it coming. The American People are good, by and large, but when shoved, they lose patience and very quickly. Ask the Japanese right after Pearl Harbor if they felt they got away with anything in the long run. This Pelosi individual is sorely misjudging the American People in my book. Sad, almost embarrassing for her.
I'm with you honey!! I also have indigestion, insomnia, and .... when I turn on the TV - high blood pressure!!! I'm gonna NEED health care if this doesn't end soon....
BUT I am NOT giving up.... I think of our forefathers, our current brave soldiers, - if they can keep going when they have such awful circumstances - surely I can sit at my kitchen table and phone, phone, phone.... e-mail.... phone some more!!
That is why, IMO, Tim Pawlenty is a RINO.
Carolyn Lochhead -
She graduated from UC Berkeley with majors in rhetoric and economics, and then Columbia University in journalism.
Two issues there. First, I don't see how these two can agree, even if they only need a majority in the Senate. Some major differences remain and it is not sure if Reid can get 51 on any one version. Barely got 60 first time under their terms and with all the special deals.
Second, the GOP can make two arguments. First, is that the new bill isn't reconciliation of the original bill, but an entirely new bill which cloture would apply (and need 60 votes to move along). Second, the GOP can challenge anything in the new bill that isn't budget in nature. That is a lot of the new bill.
Although I fell they will hijack this somehow, there are still tools in the arsenal.
If the bill fails now, they can always vote on it in December after they lose Congress and don’t care any more.
Betting on a long odds horse there...
lest you forget that the pubbies usually act like Les Nessman when in an alley against a Hells Angels chapter...
It sounds like the talking point for today is, once we have the names of those voting no, we can make them change their vote.
Once this passes, the Stalinist machine on the Left will do everything possible to insure that it remains in effect. I cannot even imagine what it will take to return to liberty and freedom.
But make no mistake: this will come to pass with the consent of the people thru apathy and laziness. Conversely, it will be defeated with great effort and prosperity.
Since when is "treason" a strategic alternative?
Sad when you can’t even rely on the SCOTUS to uphold the Constitution.
Nancy said “Waving a sheaf of papers that she said she got from a friend in San Francisco who was in the Johnson administration when Medicare was passed in 1965, she said the vote tallies then showed how Republicans tried to kill Medicare on a procedural motion and succeeded at one point.”
Too bad people don’t do a little research.
88th Congress make-up
Senate 68 Dem - 32 Rep
House 295 Dem - 140 Rep
Even greater lead than now, so both houses were veto proof and any problems were on the Dims.
Constitution? "It's just a goddamn piece of paper..."
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