Ruminations of a New Hampshire Republican with decidedly libertarian leanings
The Libertarian
"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."
...Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
...Winston Churchill
CAFFERTY: Just when you think you've seen it all in Washington, along
comes something like this. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may try to pass
the controversial health care reform bill without making members vote on
it- simply 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- quote, 'deem' the
health care bill to be passed.
Politically speaking, this is
beyond sleazy. It's meant to protect House Democrats, who are all
running for reelection in November, from having to make a tough vote up
or down on health care reform. Pelosi says of this process- quote, 'I
like it, because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill,' unquote.
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 so-called Cadillac insurance plans.
This tactic has
been used in the past, but never- never for something as big and
important as the $900 billion health care reform bill- never.
Republicans are jumping all over this, rightfully so. They're painting
it as a way for Democrats to avoid taking responsibility, which is
exactly what it is. Some even suggest it's unconstitutional.
