Posted on 03/24/2010 10:54:45 PM PDT by Blonde
As you all know, I’m on semi-vacation with my family. It’s 10:00pm Pacific time and after putting everyone to bed, I decided to check in online and turn on the TV. I flipped through C-SPAN thinking I’d be able to catch up on re-runs of the day’s business…only to find the Senate still live and in session at 1:00am Eastern voting on Demcare amendments.
Yes, the Vampire Congress is back in business again — shirking the glare of daylight as it tables Republican motion after motion. A final vote on the wreckonciliation bill is expected at around 3:00-6:00am Eastern this morning.
Here’s a list of some of the GOP amendments to the wreconciliation bill (click on link for more info):
* Senator Gregg: Protect Medicare Savings * Senator McCain: Remove Sweetheart Deals * Senator Crapo: No Tax Hikes for Families Earning Under $250,000 * Senator Enzi: Strike the Employer Mandate * Senator Barrasso: Requires Legislation Not Increase Premiums * Senator Grassley: Requires President, Congress Enroll in Exchange * Senator Alexander: Reduce Student Loan Interest Rate * Senator LeMieux: Members On Medicaid * Senator Coburn: Bars Sex Offenders from Receiving E.D. Drugs * Senator Hutchison: State Opt Out * Senator Hatch: Block Medicare Advantage Cuts * Senator Collins: Waive Employer Mandate Tax * Senator Thune: Strike CLASS Act * Senator Cornyn: Remove New Taxes on Investments * Senator Hatch: Protect Wounded Soldiers from Medical Device Tax * Senator Inhofe: Protect Pediatrics and Disabled from Medical Device Tax * Senator Crapo: Protect Cancer Patients from Medical Device Tax * Senators Roberts, Inhofe, Brown, Crapo: Strike Medical Device Tax * Senator Burr: Tricare and Veterans Health Programs * Senator Roberts: Rationing * Senator Roberts: Critical Access Hospitals * Senator Vitter: Repeals Democrats’ Health Care Bill
Go here for the roll call votes.
Among the more noteworthy votes taken so far:
Sen. Coburn’s attempt to bar Viagra for sex offenders was tabled by 57-42. Democrat Sens. Bayh and Nelson voted with the Republicans.
Sen. Vitter’s motion to repeal the Demcare takeover was tabled by 58-39.
The Hill is also up tonight covering the dwellers in darkness:
As of 11:30 p.m., the chamber had defeated 19 straight Republican proposals and adopted none.
There were no Democratic amendments proposed, and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is under pressure to preserve the bill intact, which would prevent it from having to be sent back to the House. The House already approved the reconciliation bill in its session last weekend.
A spokesman for Reid’s office said instead of adjourning, the evening’s continuous voting has put the chamber within reach of a final vote in the wee hours of Thursday — possibly between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Although 20 hours of debate are normally required, Democrats surrendered their half of that time on Wednesday morning, and GOP leaders decided later in the day against a strategy of filing repeated amendments.
Democratic leaders are moving the bill through the Senate under special parliamentary rules, known as the reconciliation process, under which they only need to amass 51 votes, meaning they can afford to lose several members of their party. Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin, whose rulings were critical to the state of the bill, had not issued any rulings to adversely affect the bill as of 11:30 p.m.
I’ll update through the night. Stay tuned.
I have not a clue ? Reid looked like he was going to drop - I was hoping someone would fill me in on what I was seeing - other then Franken acting like the idiot he is.
I need to pray a rosary. I agree with you. Reid looked that he was going to drop. Forgive me Mother of Mary.
I do have to admit that through all of this grief I have never been so humored! My husband has not had a paycheck since last April 1. There really is nothing more sad as knowing that you played by the rules and rulers screwed you over. It is what it is. Now matter how pissed I am I and my family will survive.
I know exactly how you feel. We have to have faith that in the end the good guys will prevail;)
How can you bar Viagra for felons but allow felons to vote? Also, on that subject, how can you allow felons to vote but NOT also give them back their 2nd Amendment rights as well? I didn’t think you could pick-N-choose due process?? I don’t think they should get any “rights” back, but I am wondering how the Marxists can pick and choose like this??
...we just got done passing a stupid bill 70% of the American people don't want WITHOUT having elected representatives voting on it....that's why felons can vote
The war on America has begun.
>GOP leaders decided later in the day against a strategy of filing repeated amendments.
Why?! The idea is to make it as hard as possible to install this communist garbage.
I hope they have a good reason!
Sen. Vitter’s motion to repeal the Demcare takeover was tabled by 58-39.
WTF? 39?
The war began last November when Obama with the help of ACORN and complicit Sec. of State’s allowed him and his party to steal the election.
Meanwhile the total destruction of the Senate is underway. Bye bye filibuster, it was nice while you lasted.
Two-bit tin pot tyranny ahead, buckle up.
++++++++++++++++
We’ll restore the rules, and put these tin pots in prison.
HOWEVER- the Senate was able to find a couple of things and now the bill HAS been sent BACK to the House! They have to vote on it again!!
“Oh, dear. Al Franken has taken over as presiding officer.”
Is this a Saturday Night Live skit?
Andy Levy tweets in reply to my report on Reid’s grim appearance: “‘And I looked, and behold a pale hoarse Harry Reid.’ (Revelation 6:8)”
…And Hell followed with him.
You owe me a new keyboard!
......* Senator Hatch: Block Medicare Advantage Cuts *.....
I guess this was defeated. The Dark Side still prevails against us. The Death Star must be destroyed
My Medicare (medicare advantage)health insurance is going up and coverage down. I will be taxed. Did Obama bet his life on the veracity of his words?
“I don’t think they should get any “rights” back, but I am wondering how the Marxists can pick and choose like this??”
Socialists don’t have process standards - just ‘the end’. Just ‘the utopia.’ Getting there, and how you get there, doesn’t seem to matter to them. The slaughter of 80 million people under the banner of socialism is that point writ large. They are the ultimate Machiavellian slime balls.
They’ll either use “deem n pass” this time, they do not want the chance of someone on their side jumping ship. Given the public’s reaction to the passage, I’m sure more than a few yea’s now have cold feet.
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