Next Step As Obamacare Goes Nuclear

HumanEvents.com ^ | 10/16/2009 | Connie Hair

[2nd amendment mama]

The House of Representatives yesterday set into motion the nuclear option for H.R. 3200 that would make it possible for the Senate to pass government-run health care with only 51 votes.

House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) held the mandatory hearing yesterday to pass the formal notification in the form of a letter to the Budget Committee saying H.R. 3200 -- the main House Obamacare bill which was the subject of all the town hall rage in August -- has met all requirements to pass as a “budget reconciliation” measure.

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the top Republican on the House Ways & Means Committee, spoke with HUMAN EVENTS yesterday about events at the hearing and maneuvers by House Democrats to give their Senate comrades the opportunity to shut down debate on the bill in the Senate with 51 votes instead of the required 60.

“Under the rules, they had to have a hearing in committee in order to be able to position themselves to move through a process called reconciliation,” Camp said.  “They had to send the bill to the Budget Committee to do that.”

The notification is in the form of a letter certifying that the Ways & Means Committee has met the requirements set forth in the budget bill.

“Attached to the letter would be the bill,” Camp said.  “So this sends the bill to the Budget Committee to vote it out.  They’re setting up the nuclear option, not having any Republican votes for this bill.  They’re setting up that process.”

“That is an amendable document,” Camp continued.  “It’s an amendable process. There’s an opportunity to have amendments and have debate. They shut that completely down.”

The notification letter passed out of the Ways & Means Committee on a straight party line vote. No debate was allowed, and no amendments. Rangel told Camp that he would not have preferred to do it this way, but leadership -- i.e., Speaker Pelosi -- forced his hand.  

“We had let them know we were offering amendments and we had heard no problem with that until we got there today,” Camp said.  “Chairman Rangel said leadership made him do it, but he did it, not the leadership.”

This was the final opportunity for debate and amendments to the bill on a committee level.  The Budget Committee will simply vote to pass the bill out with an up or down vote that would certify that the bill has met the reconciliation requirements.

“It’s supposed to only be bills that impact the deficit,” Camp added.  “And what they’ve done is said this bill will save a billion dollars. That’s what we were ordered under the budget resolution to do.  They’ll fulfill that marker, but they’ll use that obviously to spend a lot more.”

The bill being certified for “reconciliation” is the Ways & Means version of H.R. 3200 that was passed out of committee before the August break, and before it was read aloud at town hall meetings across the country and blasted by voters across the country.

It contains all of the horrors previously exposed:  federal funding of abortion, coverage for illegal aliens, comparative effectiveness, healthcare rationing, deep cuts to Medicare.  Everything the American people overwhelmingly reject.

“Since the time we voted on this bill until today, we’ve had new issues develop, we’ve had new scores from the Congressional Budget Office which is the non-partisan expert agency that reviews our legislation,” Camp said.  “We felt it was important to talk about the issues.  We’ve had some new developments, new information.”  

“Let’s have 72 hours to read the bill and have the bill available,” Camp continued.  “That didn’t get any certain discussion today.  Let’s make sure members of Congress are part of any health care bill that passes.  That didn’t get any debate today.  Let’s make sure that we do not have non-citizens here illegally getting government funded healthcare.  Let’s make sure we don’t use tax dollars to fund and pay for abortion.  We didn’t get to vote on that today.”

Reconciliation is a parliamentary process that was created for use solely on the reduction of spending bills in order to reduce the deficit.  Spending bills must originate in the House, and when passing the budget, the full House can include language in the budget bill to a specific committee instructing them to reduce spending by a specific amount in order to reduce the deficit.  

Having learned from the 1993 Hillarycare debacle when the American people utterly rejected the notion of the government takeover of health care, House Democrats placed reconciliation language into the 2010 budget to facilitate passage of the government takeover of health care with Obamacare through budget reconciliation.  In the case of H.R. 3200, the reconciliation instruction was to reduce the cost of the health care bill by $1 billion -- a bill that by some estimates will cost taxpayers a minimum of $1.6 trillion.

“This is after August when the American people clearly weighed in and said, ‘Hey, hold up.  We want to be part of this.  We want to have some more openness,’” Camp said.  “I think they feel the less people know the better; that they, the majority, are better off because they don’t have to explain.  People don’t know what it is they’re really doing.  We won’t find out until it’s actually done.”

Since it has now cleared the Ways and Means Committee (fulfilling the $1 billion reconciliation requirement), H.R. 3200 will go to the Budget Committee where they will do the same thing that was done today in Ways & Means.  They will agree on a straight party line vote that the bill has met the reconciliation requirements.
 
The bill then goes to Pelosi and the Rules Committee where Pelosi will do the same thing Sen. Harry Reid is doing with the two Senate bills right now:  Pelosi will merge the three House versions of H.R. 3200 together into whatever she wants it to be, then she will schedule it for a floor vote.
 
H.R. 3200 could see a floor vote in the next two weeks, likely no later than the first week of November if Democrats believe they have the votes for passage.  If the bill does pass a full House vote, and that’s a big “if” given the deep divides over the issues among Democrats, the bill would then be sent over to the Senate.

There are still bumps in the road for passage in the Senate with 51 votes, placing the undue burden for passage of H.R. 3200 through the Senate by reconciliation on rulings from the Senate parliamentarian.

Stay tuned.

[Military family member]

That is a separate issue. Clearly the Democrats are out to pas this bill regardless of what others say. Given that attitude, what else could any of the rest of us do?

I know they may not have been impressed, but to say that nothing was done is to treat the 2 to 3 million who went to Washington the same way the Democrats and MSM did.

[Texas Fossil]

Not sure that is would, but I think Cap & Trade would.

At least in the Oil Producing Region.

If it comes it will be a State action, not individuals.

Someone uncork his hidden history, it is time for Obozo to Exit Stage Left.

There can be no recovery until he is out of office.

[Liz]

Reference 4th Amendment: Socialized health care is impossible without seizing private medical records----the 4th prohibits seizure without warrants.

The Constitution is meaningless to the present govt. We ain't seen nuttin' yet. Ohaha’s got BIG plans, much much BIGGER PLANS for us. Ohaha told the N/Orleans crowd: "I'm not tired. I'm just getting started."

Once govt gets control of medical care, all the defining, controlling features of socialist govt can be introduced, one by one.

PASTE THIS ON YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR AND MEMORIZE IT . "Medicine is the keystone of the arch of the socialist state.” Vladimir Lenin.

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Obama-Soros Health Crimes
Canada Free Press | 10/14/2009 | Joy Tiz
FR Posted Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by jazminerose

Most of Obama’s stated plans for America are indistinguishable from those of George Soros. As the left forces nationalized health care on us, we may want to consider Soros’s Project on Death. Soros is a leading promoter of the assisted suicide movement. He papers over it with tripe about compassion; in reality, the project is a push for palliative care rather than treatment for gravely ill patients. As always, it’s all about the money: (Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...

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NOTE: The Emanuel brothers--Rahm and Zeke---are in charge of the healthcare trillions.

On the plus side, Dr Zeke was spit-shining his penny loafers when the subject of "death panels" surfaced.

[meyer]

Next stop a dictatorship?

Being necessary for the security of a FREE STATE, the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

We are deviating well away from a free state these days...

[maine-iac7]

Next stop a dictatorship?

In case no one has noticed, the coup has already taken place.

it started in earnest last fall and continued since - the Republicans have been SHUT OUT of meetings, of hearings, of any input - literally SHUT OUT as if they weren't even in DC.

I realize that whichever party has the majority has the advantage - but never before has that meant they - and they alone - write the bills, decide which one shall even come to the floor - and how, have "private" meetings without anyone from the other party, etc etc.

WE think they're getting ready for a coup?

I think it has already happened.

Buckle your seat belts, it's gonna be a rough ride -

and find a way to grow and store food - but let NO ONE, other than family, know you have any food storage, because they have laws now - in the 'security bills - that would, in time of emergency - allow the gendarmes to come into your home and search for stored food - it would no longer be 'stored' but "hoarded" and you would be a criminal with fines/jail. (Enemy of the people.)

Think on this: They have commandeered the auto industry, the banking industry, the college loan must now ALL be from the gov't, and now the health bill- which, among things like fines and jail, allows them to have access to ALL you financial records - banking, etc.

Now, one tiny step further and everyone is under there iron thumb.

The trucking industry - which NO ONE is saying a word about - is in dire straights. Over a quarter million drivers have lost their jobs in the last year and thousands of trucking co.s have gone bankrupt.

Shipping is down dramatically, shipping containers are lying still by the thousands here and abroad.

Combine that with the fact that your local supermarket has ONE days supply for it's customer base. ONE DAY.

Now remember a top tenet of Marxist strategy to rule a people: CONTROL THE FOOD, CONTROL THE PEOPLE.

Any day, they could take over the trucking industry. Then you will be dependent on them for your very daily food. The masses will behave.

Put in some emergency rations - dried goods like beans, peas, rice, dried soups/veggies are a good start as they will last for years and take up less space than other foods like canned goods.

The LDS (Mormon) Church, decades ago, warned it's people to practice storage - 2 years supply, as well as have your own water supply.

You can find advice from them on how to gather/store/use and rotate storage foods.

Few of us here today could ever envision what is happening in this country today. Many, who've been around as long as I have = and had a REAL education in school, complete with history, have known this was the goal of the socialists/marxists in this country for decades - but few could believe it none would listen.

They're listening now - Pray to God it isn't too late.

In the meantime - get your head around this - a silent coup has already taken place in DC.

Batten down your hatches = and get some supplies in...and put in gardens come spring - even it means using your lawn - make it "English" with a combination of vegetable and flowers - serves two purposes, makes it pretty and flowers attack beneficial insects, like lady bugs and bees.

And PRAY like you've never prayed before. )Even the scientists now admit that prayer really works - they're even beginning to understand the why of it = and they call it "Noetic Science."

Those who believe what Jesus taught - but few ever 'got' - know how and why it works.

[hot4plasma]

I concur 100 percent with what you posted. Thanks for telling it like it is.

[New Yawk Minute]

I thought the same way as you do, for a while. I believe it was arizona, who was having some vote, on excuding thier state from healthcare reform. I thought this was a great idea, until I began to think about what the reform would actually do.

Tell me what you think of my thoughts on this..and whether or not states opting out..will matter or not.

If that HR3200 type bill is passed..employers will be fined for not providing insurance. Most americans get their insurance thru work.

So, lets say the fine..is less than what the employer is shelling out. What do you think he will do? If the fine is less..he will drop his employees insurance. Under that plan, you would then have to buy govt insurance.

If your state opts out..what happens? You cant have ANY insurance?

You are forced to buy the govts.

This is why I think, opting out, ultimately wont matter. They have us over a barrel.

[Little Ray]

Sorry.
The current administration WANTS conservatives to do something silly and violent. They would love an excuse to crack down on us.

[sport]

My hat is off to everyone that went. At one time that would have been effective. But now we are dealing with evil power worshipping individuals. Who, as the Bible says, “Regard neither God or man.”

[hot4plasma]

“The current administration WANTS conservatives to do something silly and violent. They would love an excuse to crack down on us.”

BINGO!!!!!! That’s all they need, and they are banking on it.

We are being played like the fiddles of Nero..

[sport]

They will do it anyway. Who said anything about dping anything silly or violent? I was just saying that thy know us and they know the other side.

[bolobaby]

Portrait of Olympia Snowe:

(If you get the reference.)

[Canadian Outrage]

America has absolutely no choice but to have a military backed armed revolution at this point. America will NEVER get rid of Obama. He’s a tyrannical dictator who is full of the devil. He means to utterly destroy America and millions of her people, all the while enriching himself and pretending to be a King. I pray to God that America wakes up right now and does what it needs to do or you will be experiencing Obamageddon!! CO

[luvbach1]

Your #45: great post.

[New Yawk Minute]

This was a great post. I agree so much. Lately, I have become a news addict. (Imagine? This from a person who never paid attention before). You arent the only one that feels this is whats going on. I have also read many, many articles and websites on food storage.

Day by day..a few more people are waking up...I think.

The only thing that bothers me is..are those of us who are aware of whats going on..better off than those who dont? By now, its obvious..we cant do anything about it.

[New Yawk Minute]

Military backed? Whose military? The US’s? Fat chance.

This is why violence will get you nowhere. No a days word for a revolution, would be a riot.

[maine-iac7]

“PASTE THIS ON YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR AND MEMORIZE IT . “Medicine is the keystone of the arch of the socialist state.” Vladimir Lenin. “

You're preaching to to choir -

RAther: Print it out in bold and color (Commie red) and mail it all republicans and Blue Dogs = to remind them and let them know We Know. - hopefully, make the think twice about letting this behemoth pass.)

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

bookmark the links for frequent use ;o)

[Canadian Outrage]

You have elected violent thugs. Trust me, they will have no problem using violence against you. But then again, you live there, I don’t. CO

[Landru]

Thanks for the ping, Liz.
Fscinating.

If you had an contact with "stephen" recently, he might've told you what I told him? Nothing earth shaking, per se, but an interesting tidbit from flyover nonetheless and from the most unlikeliest sources. of

Will drop you a FM, later, explain.
*Just* in case he didn't relate the tale. :^)

[New Yawk Minute]

I didnt elect them.

And if you dont live here, you shouldnt be advising those who do, on violence.

This may come as a surprise to you, but we do have laws here, which most of us obey.

We will get thru this one way or another. I have faith in the american people. The thugs wont be in charge long.