If bill fails, Pelosi has strategic alternative

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/17/10 | Carolyn Lochhead, Chronicle Washington Bureau

[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.

Identical bills needed

Under the Constitution, both chambers must pass identical bills.

[mcmuffin]

We're getting close...

[Let's Roll]

I believe this deeming nonsense has no validity at all. Read down far enough in the link below and you will see that ‘deeming’ is for resolutions which have no force of law, but NOT for bills, the requirements for which are quite clearly spelled out in the Constitution and again at the link.

http://jewishworldreview.com/0310/blankley031710.php3

[Bob Ireland]

I heard Rush agree with my assessment today; he termed this the ‘overthrow of the Constitution’... seems inescapable to me.

[a fool in paradise]

Disenfranchise the voters. Nancy Pelosi rules the most unethical Congress in history. Impeach. Impeach. Impeach.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --

[Gene Eric]

>> Democrats are relentless, they will just pound away until they get what they want.

We must ask ourselves if we love our Liberties more than they love to control us.

[Hoffer Rand]

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Title does not match article. Should be “Pelosi trades shots with GOP over health care”

[SmithL]

They changed their headline. This wasn’t the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

[mojitojoe]

[mojitojoe]

[Freedom Frayed]

Note to our legislators, (which you may copy and send)

PLEASE VOTE AGAINST this insane health care bill. It is over 2,400 pages long and I can not in good conscience pay for those who choose to have their pre-born babies killed via abortion.
It flies in the face of my faith and my belief in the significance of our responsibility to PROTECT HUMAN LIFE and liberty. In addition, I do not believe it is constitutional for the Govt. to require anyone to buy public health care. There are MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD IT and MOST AMERICANS DON’T WANT IT!

Those who support this bill will effectively end their political careers doing so, because it’s being orchestrated using back room and one on one deals, with legislators who have never read it and don’t intend to sign it.

The unconstitutional tactics being used reflect VERY POORLY on this administration and anyone who supports this bill.

PLEASE, stand with the American people by voting AGAINST THIS BILL, for the sake of life and liberty, as well as for the well being of your political career.

KILL THE BILL!

[UCANSEE2]