Posted on 12/22/2009 4:09:15 PM PST by mdittmar
WASHINGTON It may be the only bipartisan agreement that Congress reaches this year on overhauling health care.
Republicans, under pressure not to wreck Christmas for lawmakers and their staffs, agreed Tuesday that Senate passage of the Democrats' controversial bill seemed inevitable and scaled back procedural-delay mechanisms to allow a vote by the morning of Christmas Eve.
Had the full debate continued, the Senate would have voted at around 9 p.m. Thursday, too late for many lawmakers and their staff members to get home in time for the holiday. Instead, the vote is set for 8 a.m.
President Barack Obama had announced that he'd delay his own departure for his family vacation in Hawaii until the vote was over.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had said that he'd been willing to stay late into Christmas Eve because, "It's important that we take the time to analyze it in every way that we can before the final votes are taken in the Senate."
However, Democrats as well as Republicans expressed concern about missing Christmas since many live in places where planes can't get them home in time and others were concerned about an ice storm that's threatening the Midwest.
McConnell also said, "The final vote in the Senate is not the final vote. There are substantial differences between the House and Senate bills. This debate is not over."
If the Senate's version passes as expected, it will be considered by a House of Representatives-Senate conference, or negotiating, committee, which typically operates largely in secrecy.
"The American people are still going to have another month or so, I would guess, to weigh in and express their concerns about this package to each of their representatives," McConnell said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
Allows more continued detachment and insulation from the effects of this from the ones “crafting it”, including the staffers.
Another slap in the face of real, hardworking Americans who have worked holidays all their lives.
Another example of how it’s all about them. But they’ll hide behind the excuse that their staffers are the real reason they’re doing it.
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Amen, and that’s the truth! I have been called in to do open heart surgery on Christmas day and that is just one example over the years.
These people have no idea what it means to work for a living, take call, care for people, make sacrifices and do your job with honor. They are actors, not professionals.
You wrote: “Dirtbag commies dont deserve a Merry Christmas. They hate Christianity anyway.”
Amen! That’s so insightful - do you know Jim Thompson?
Good point, FreeReign. Looks like EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US has our work cut out for ourselves in 2010 and 2012. If we allow just ONE registered Republican to sit on his/her lazy ass on election day, then WE have screwed up - and deserve the same tar and feathering that we are giving our current batch of elected officials!!!!!
IT IS ALL OVER, NOW AND FOR ALL TIME HENCEFORTH!
Our troops are working Christmas Eve, so whats the big deal?
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BEST POST!!!!
Republican strategy? To do what? I’m surprised it took the dems this long since they have the votes to plow anything they want through as long as they can keep their herd in check.
, the slaves lost again
I HATE THE US GOVERNMENT !
It is not the US government described in the constitution
it is not a government that aligns with the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence,
I wish to add my name at the bottom and send the declaration to the US government, I vow to finish out my life in bitter defiance of all that it stands for, republican/democrat < I hate them all !
Press Conference of Senator __________, December 23, 2009
I have called this press conference because I am so distraught I cannot sleep. Something inside me is deeply bothered and I realize I need to take a stand. Though I have been a member of the Democratic party all my life, I've come to realize since last year that my party has been a party in name only. I now know in my heart that the central goals and philosophy of my party are no different than the goals, tenets and philosophy of the Communist Party USA. I am worried about the health care bill and beyond that, what my vote on the bill symbolizes for the future of America. I am concerned about the current holders of power, the Czars and the talk I hear around Washington. None of it is good. I am also deeply troubled that if my vote for the current health care legislation guarantees its passage, then the tide of Cap and Trade, Card Check, Amnesty for illegals and Gun Control will sweep this nation and forever produce a fundamental change in these United States I so deeply love.
I therefore am announcing I will vote No on the current Health Care legislation and vote No on what I feel will be upcoming legislation on Cap and Trade, Amnesty for illegals, Card Check and Gun Control.
Thank You and God Bless America!
And all the “women” too?
Doing the right thing SHOULD NOT be a big thing.
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Except when very few (leaders) are doing it. Then it becomes harder. It would be great to get back to the point when it wasn’t.
Gene Eric: Im not talking about guys like DeMint.
Bruce: “DeMint is part of the GOP.”
Gene Eric: “DeMint is also a Senator. You must therefore be satisfied with the actions of the Senate.”
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I’m satisfied with the actions of DeMint and a few others who seem to care about this monstrosity. The only ones that DO care, are a too small slice of the GOP, but nevertheless part of it. That is important.
I spent quite a few Christmases deployed - preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States against foreign enemies. I’m disappointed that the GOP thought it was unreasonable for them to give up one Christmas to defend against domestic enemies of our Constitution.
McConnell is a silly looking twit with a weak chin. Reid makes me think of a pervert. The gruesome twosome. Merry f’ing Christmas to the royal 100 - enjoy it cause it will probably be outlawed next year.
The Constitution is being raped and everyone is worried about the Families of the Rich and Infamous Politicians having to delay opening their Christmas presents?
Half of these imbeciles are Pro Abortion Atheists who get off work to celebrate the miracle of the birth of Christ?
I say hang them all and hope there is a special place in Hell where these idiots have to listen to Obama making his pointless speeches 24/7 forever.
Just when I think it can't get any worse, it does.
What about our soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan??? I bet they would love to be home for Christmas!!!
What about the 17.5% Americans who are out of work because of the socialist bastards??? I bet they would love to be working on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, just to have a job.
I am going to call tomorrow and scream & holler to Mitch McConnell's office about this....not that it will do any good, other than to vent off steam. What bastards we have in Washington DC!!!
Senator Ensign has the floor and hes just called the entire bill UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND NOW HES ARTICULATING THE REASONS.
I am glad for Sen Ensign doing this...
But that and 50 cents gets us nothing. He could talk until he is blue in the face and the demoRATs don't give a flying crap about constitutionality of anything. Even if it does go to SCOTUS, the bastards liberals & swing judge Kennedy, will vote 5-4 at a MINIMUM in favor of this bill. Our Constitution is an ancient, irrelevant relic, that has been plundered & shredded so badly, that it really does not even exist in U.S. law any longer. Somehow, we need an American Revolution II, to throw out the entire Federal gubmint ruling elites and into prison for high crimes & treason against the U.S., negate every law in the past 100 years and start over. I am glad that Sw
Freepers are getting upset at the GOP here over nothing.
I think it's because when conservatives & patriots get screwed so much, that even some temporary delaying tactics & inconviencing the demoRATS at least gives us some moral victories. Dingy Harry Reid isn't concerned at all about ramming this down America's throat with 1 am roll calls & votes and ramming it down on us on Christmas Eve. And yet the stupid party Repukes roll over even on their threats to delay this up to the very end. What weenie spineless bastards we have who are supposedly representing us.
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