FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Just when you think you've seen it all in Washington... along comes something like this:
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/16/art.pelosi.jpg caption="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may call for a vote on a rule that would simply 'deem' the Senate health care bill passed."]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may try to pass the controversial health care reform bill without making members vote on it. Unbelievable.
Pelosi says she might use a procedural tactic where the House will vote on the package of fixes to the Senate bill... and then that vote would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health care bill to be passed.
Politically speaking, this is beyond sleazy. It's meant to protect Democrats - especially those up for re-election in November - from having to make a tough vote. Pelosi says of this process, "I like it... because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill." In Nancy Pelosi's world, accountability is a dirty word.
The Senate bill, of course, contains many provisions that are unpopular among some House Democrats - including language on abortion funding and taxes on high-cost insurance plans.
This tactic has been used in the past - but never for something as big and important as the nearly $900 billion health care reform bill.
Republicans are jumping all over this - and rightfully so. They're painting it as a way for Democrats to avoid taking responsibility. Some even suggest it's unconstitutional.
Meanwhile President Obama is campaigning relentlessly - calling on lawmakers to pass health care reform, "I want some courage. I want us to do the right thing."
The irony here is if Nancy Pelosi gets her way, it won't take much courage at all on the part of our so-called representatives.
Here’s my question to you: Should Nancy Pelosi be allowed to push health care reform through the House without a vote?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Dan writes:
This is what we've come to expect from Pelosi and her ilk. It explains the shocking January revolt in Mass. and hints at a possible Democratic slaughter in November 2010 if they use such a tactic. I suppose saying 'no' to such an unaffordable monstrosity doesn't qualify as being courageous in Obama's world. So typical.
Tom in Las Vegas writes:
I voted for Reid and Obama, but I can tell you I was sadly mistaken. I was taken in like so many others, but I will reflect my anger in November and again in 2012 against Obama. People I talk to consider Pelosi to be an idiot. How she got there mystifies us. Our govt. is acting just as the communists do and they have forgotten they work for the American people.
Michael writes:
I'm not exactly a humongous fan of the bill and would rather see the Medicare buy-in. But, this is a standard procedure used extensively by both parties.
Pam in Tennessee writes:
Okay, what do we have representatives for? To vote in our interest? Speak the will and desires of the people?... If the health bill has so many issues, should not someone stand up and say: Hey, maybe we need to go back to the drawing board? Maybe we need solutions proposed not by lawyers but by educated, caring American physicians, administrators and people who actually work in the trenches of health care who know what the real problems are.
Nathaniel writes:
At this point, anything that gets this thing passed is a good thing. This bill will save a lot of lives and a lot of money and the sooner we can get to doing those two things, the better.
Bill writes:
I can't agree with you more. The president says he wants an up-or-down vote on health care and for someone to show some courage. I guess the speaker didn't get the memo.