Breaking: House will not use ‘deem and pass’ – will give Senate health bill a straight up or down vote
Fox News is reporting that the House Rules Committee has decided not to move forward with a vote on the health care legislation using the controversial “deem and pass” approach that would ‘deem’ the Senate Bill passed as a part of a vote on the reconciliation portion of the bill.
Using “deem and pass” would have allowed House Democrats to skip a direct vote on the Senate bill (a less than politically courageous way of proceeding) while still passing it contingent upon the Senate passing the legislation containing the House ‘fixes’.
Since the idea of using ‘deem and pass’ emerged earlier in the week as a way to give political cover to worried House Democrats, Republicans have tried to paint the idea as subversive and controversial – despite the fact that Republicans have availed themselves of the rule over 200 times.
Deciding the hold a vote on the Senate Bill ‘as is’, before voting on the separate bill containing the fixes to go the Senate for a reconciliation vote, is and critical and important decision.
For starters, if the Senate Bill passes in the House, we will have a health care reform bill that President Obama can sign. Further, the decision to give the Senate bill a straight up or vote is a further indication that House Democrats are prepared to trust that the Senate will make good on its promise to put through the changes the House wants using reconciliation. The House Democratic leadership had required that the Senate deliver them a letter, signed by at least 51 senators, promising to get their fixes through the Senate so they too can become law.
The decision will also remove the PR stigma that would attach to a “deem and pass” vote for those who believe that this is, somehow, an underhanded move on the part of House Democrats.
This is a good decision by Nancy Pelosi and one that bodes well for having a reform bill tomorrow night that the President can sign on Monday.
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
I’m not sure I like even this latest health care bill because I still firmly believe we need a viable public option. That said, I will breathe easier if anything passes because the current health care situation is completely unsustainable, and I find that reprehensible in a country as ’supposedly’ progressive and wealthy as we are.
[...] Breaking: House will not use “deem and pass” – will give Senate … [...]
Now that it looks like this is going through, I will say a lot of people are going to be walking on eggshells until the meat of the bill kicks in four years from now. At least there is light at the end of the tunnel; still, a lot of people will lose their savings in the interim.
Having traveled to PurpleUmpkin, it does not surprise me how well Nancy Pelosi has done. She saw our Universal Health Care system and how well it worked. It covers all children. (we were a bit surprised that 10,000 children a year are allowed to die in US). (Killed by Corporations that have a Monopoly.)(If the Supreme Court has determined corporations are people, where are the charges of murder)(That’s right they are people when it comes to free speech only. So hope fully today is the beginning. I was a bit taken back by people at the capital building yelling KILL THE BILL. They were actually covering for KILL THE CHILDREN. What the hell has happened to your county. It is time to move forward and create a new America. Best always
Michael John McCann
Mayor of PurpleUmpkin
Dear Rick,
I am a bit sorry I got carried away on Health Care. I would like to introduce my self. I am the Mayor of PurpleUmpkin. A little planet next to Pluto. We are Murples here and we really care. Hope fully one day you will visit as your friends here. Please, Thank you, and Ok can hardly wait for that day. I travel from here to earth on a daily basis. We are actually three days ahead of earth. Time is a bit different. I wish you all the best and look forward to earthly discussions. Best.
Michael John McCann
Mayor of PurpleUmpkin
Diplomat
I hardly know what to say…I’m rarely contacted by a mayor!
In response to another comment. See in context »It rather sounds like you are not terribly far (as the crow flies) from my kingdom of Hamiltonia. It is a small, but impressive country with not too many residents — save for the 4 miniature schnauzers who guard the kingdom with the tenacity of a wolf and his wolfess.
In response to another comment. See in context »