Obama & Dems to Ram Through Unpopular Health Care Bill With 51 Votes
Posted by Jim Hoft on Friday, February 19, 2010, 5:35 AM
There was a reason that President Obama and the democratic-media complex were going off about the dreaded filibuster these past few weeks. The filibuster is the successful blocking of legislation in the Senate by forcing a failed cloture vote. Obama said that senate democrats had to “break more filibusters last year than in the entire 1950s and 1960s combined” despite the fact that there wasn’t a single filibuster in 2009. Not one.
Now we know that it was all a set-up. It was just a ruse by the democrats and Obama so that they could come back and ram their health care bill through the US Senate with 51 votes.
FOX News reported:
President Obama is working on health care legislation intended to reconcile differences between House and Senate Democrats that could be attached to a budget bill and avoid a Republican filibuster, according to a published report.
The president’s proposal, which is still being written, will be posted on the Internet by Monday morning, senior administration officials and Congressional aides told the New York Times.
By piggybacking the legislation onto a budget bill, Democrats would be able to advance the bill with a simple majority of just 51 votes, averting a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
The White House signaled Thursday that an aggressive, all-Democratic strategy for overhauling the nation’s health system remains a serious option, even as Obama invites Republicans to next week’s televised summit to seek possible compromises.
“It will be a reconciliation bill,” the Times quoted a Democratic aide as saying. “If Republicans don’t come with any substantial offers, this is what we would do.”
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Published May 23, 2012 at 11:51 pm - 69 Comments
bobc commented:
I believe this health bill is for one thing…another lock box for them to steal from.
USAtoday had an article last week about $2.5 trillion has been taken (stolen), out of social security and never paid back.
Now when our elderly are relying on it…watch them cut it.
EX Senator Simpson on Obama’s new debt commission, said last night that they aren’t going to talk about all the money we give foreigners here or even overseas, that it is chump change, they are going to look at S.S. and Medicare!
That’s right, keep handing out our hard earned tax dollars to foreigners…but cut what our elderly paid into for years!
vikingTX commented:
If they run an “all democrat” bill through, ALL democrats will be dis-elected. The real question is how many Democrats are willing to be fired over this?
Ladue Pundit commented:
How is the White House (Obama) writing a bill? How does this work under the separation of powers? Obama does not need Congress; he has Rambo and Axelwad.
kate commented:
Can you say backlash. If they think we’re angry now, just wait.
Dell commented:
I, for one, just wish they’d quit “shuckin and jivin” and shiite or get off the pot.
Enough with the “we’re on the five yard line” metaphors.
DO IT, OBAMA, DO IT!
The sooner you do it, the sooner we can write your political obituary.
mark commented:
The Crooks had two sources of income to keep the big government machine growing. One was the global warming carbon offset game that is now being frozen in its tracks. The second is the healthcare takeover. Expect a bloody fight. Big government ends with no money to grow itself if that one fails.
Neoavatara commented:
This kind of maneuver is one you would expect from fascists…if they actually carry out the threat. And it would be devastating for Obama and the Democrats. The public will put up with honesty…but will not put up with underhanded dealing.
The republicans should counter with their OWN nuclear option.
http://neoavatara.com/blog/?p=9941
Rick554 commented:
I doubt they can get 51 votes. But if they do , Obama will see those flaming torches he liked so much last year in Copenhagen or wherever it was.
Now…. how do you make a flaming torch??
howdareyouaskformyname commented:
I think these guys don’t understand how angry people are. They think this is business as usual when they are actually risking moving the country to open rebellion. They are buying their own BS is they think the Tea Partiers are a fringe group.
I hope they try this. It will be the end of them.
glockfixer commented:
Reconciliation is a threat that the Dems are using to attempt to peel away a couple of Republicans so they can claim it is a bipartisan bill. Olympia Snow comes quickly to mind!
The Dems know that many of them are endangered species now any way. They are dangerous because they have nothing to lose. Pass the bill, claim victory, and leave the Congress by retirement or by failing to be re-elected. It doesn’t matter to them. They will have filled one plank of their “Progressive” agenda. They will see themselves as selfless heroes of this Country.
avery commented:
170 partys,100.00 steaks ,dates nights,golf games up the ass,trips back and forth to cohengan ,truck load of money to Acorns and Unions,Billions up on Billions to G.E. Fofreign aids by the ship load to country that are not our friend.but we must steal more from our Senior and put a Advisedly board or better know “Death Panel”over their Health Care they don”t want to spend any money that they may not get back.But it OK to put illegal on Medical because the states will have to pick up lot of the cost “cheap Labor and Votes” and high property taxs will go sky high.
louis c commented:
I used to wonder why they called the GOP the stupid party. Why, o why, would they agree to go to this health care faux-rum?
These Democrats don’t care if they’re re-elected because they will populate the ranks of the bureaucracies created by this monstrosity.
Trish commented:
F’em. Bring it on Dems, you arrogant vainglorious bastards.
Taqiyyotomist commented:
“The president’s proposal, which is still being written, will be posted on the Internet by Monday morning, senior administration officials and Congressional aides told the New York Times.”
Watch: it won’t be. Or not all of it.
aprilnovember811 commented:
“I believe this health bill is for one thing…another lock box for them to steal from.”
You are exactly right. This is not to be saved for Health Care, they are so desperate for money, because of what they have done to the economy, they are trying to get money anyway they can.
There will be hell to pay for this.
It is blatant THEFT! We need to take back Congress and appoint a special prosecutor. Obama needs impeached. There will be prison time for many when all is said and done. I think what is going to be found from this group is going to be something we have never seen before in this country.
How many secrets of this country has Obama given away to enemies, and to who? All covered up by media, FOX included. They are complicit in it.
Ditto commented:
All I can say is that they better not! When all else fails, CHEAT! is the Democrats Logo!
Oh Boy commented:
Where did I put that pitchfork?
Taqiyyotomist commented:
“How many secrets of this country has Obama given away to enemies, and to who? ”
YOU CAN BET, all of them. And to all our enemies.
The only military secrets we have now are not written in any manuals – but on hearts.
God keep us, and our troops.
Taqiyyotomist commented:
See what the “telephone game” gets us?
Gah.
It was never about Unicorns at all, but Unions and ACORN.
karen commented:
I have no problem starting up a tax revolt . . I think its time the American people put these arrogant elitists in there place. At the same time, I can’t wait to see all these people out of their seats In November. This move will only guarantee it.
drjohn commented:
This would lead to an all out war.
Jennifer commented:
This is a religion to those godless liberals, so none of them, not a single one, who votes for this is afraid of losing his/her job. You all who think they should fear being voted out of office need to face reality. They don’t care. it is their religion. Once you understand this, you can begin to do something about it. It was Reagan who said that communists read Marx and Lenin, while anti-communists UNDERSTAND Marx and Lenin.
Espresso Logic - The 6th Sense commented:
You can reach any Senator and Congressman here:
1-877-762-8762
Call! Call! Call!
gus commented:
This has ALWAYS been about GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
The “PUBLIC OPTION” was never an option, it was the ONLY PREREQUISITE.
Obama is a Marxist. This is his WHOLE LIFE’S DREAM.
Sheila commented:
Don’t any of you get it? Your puny little votes won’t count anymore once they pass this thing – there will never be enough principled true conservatives to overhaul/repeal it, or a genuine patriotic American president to sign such a bill. They’re not that worried about getting voted out because free and fair elections (if there ever were any) are a thing of the past. Louis C., I like your “faux-rum” – it’s the perfect place for all these faux conservatives. We have the government we deserve. Decline and fall.
gus commented:
Jennifer, you are recieving a standing ovation.
Mikey commented:
The Dems HAVE to pass this. Their base is so demoralized. The only chance they have in 2010 is to get their base fired up and ready to fight. Mid-term elections are base turn-out elections. They have to counter the passion on the Right. They will still suffer losses but not a wipe-out.
Auntie Em commented:
Obama is endangering his family.
shadowsmith commented:
I applaud the young president for acting in a truly bipartisan manner.
Never has a president united democrats and moderates with Republicans in opposition to his agenda the way this man has.
garrett commented:
Turnabout is fair play.
The GOP “rammed through” tax cuts for the rich.
Paul_In_Houston commented:
However long it may take, EVERY DAMNED ONE OF THEM who votes for this atrocity must be turned out, and replaced with people who will actually work to undo it.
It is our job to find such people and support them for all they’re worth (and NEVER let them forget why we selected them in the first place).
I think I’ve just defined a sort of war.
Well then, so be it. That IS what it is.
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jcraig commented:
this is what we get instead of jobs…I’ll go with a dylan Quote:
“When you ain’t got nothin you got nothin to lose”
the streets of this country will run red leading up
to this november’s elections.
Peggy commented:
But is it clear that Nancy has the votes? Murtha has died. Cao isn’t going to vote for it I understand. Stupak may not if it funds abortion. That’s at least 3 likely gone. She had only 2 votes to spare.
As far as tax cuts are concerned, that is not a major social policy change. It is a budgetary issue. The cuts did not simply go to “the rich.”
MaxTruth commented:
Isn’t this what the Republicans called the “Nuclear Option”?
Nahanni commented:
Want to know where they are going to get the money from?
Class Warfare’s Next Target: 401(k) Savings
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=521423
BusinessWeek reports that the Treasury and Labor departments are asking for public comment on “the conversion of 401(k) savings and Individual Retirement Accounts into annuities or other steady payment streams.”
In plain English, the idea is for the government to take your retirement savings in return for a promise to pay you some monthly benefit in your retirement years.
They will tell you that you are “investing” your money in U.S. Treasury bonds. But they will use your money immediately to pay for their unprecedented trillion-dollar budget deficits, leaving nothing to back up their political promises, just as they have raided the Social Security trust funds.
This “conversion” may start out as an optional choice, though you are already free to buy Treasury bonds whenever you want. But as Karl Denninger of the Market Ticker Web site reports: “‘Choices’ have a funny way of turning into mandates, and this looks to me like a raw admission that Treasury knows it will not be able to sell its debt in the open market — so they will effectively tax you by forcing your ‘retirement’ money to buy them.”
Moreover, benefits based on Treasury bond interest rates may be woefully inadequate compensation for your years of savings. As Denninger adds, “What’s even worse is that the government has intentionally suppressed Treasury yields during this crisis (and will keep doing so by various means, including manipulating the CPI inflation index) so as to guarantee that you lose over time compared to actual purchasing power.”
This proposal follows hearings held last fall by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., of the Ways and Means Committee focusing on “redirecting (IRA and 401k) tax breaks to a new system of guaranteed retirement accounts to which all workers would be obliged to contribute,” as reported by InvestmentNews.com.
Don commented:
Dems risk losing both the Senate and House this fall…
Jesusland commented:
Then in November the GOP can win back the Senate and reverse the vote using exactly the same tactic.
olm commented:
They’ve been after 401K’s for a while. You guys have hit the nail on the head. They need money.
There is also a Obama land grab in the works. We absolutely have to watch this, they are fighting dirtier than ever for their viability.
lman commented:
Crossblogged at http://www.repubx.com .. home to IntelliFETCH Search .. check it out!
Espresso Logic - The 6th Sense commented:
shadowsmith
February 19th, 2010 | 11:31 am | #31
I applaud the young president for acting in a truly bipartisan manner.
Never has a president united democrats and moderates with Republicans in opposition to his agenda the way this man has.
garrett
February 19th, 2010 | 11:32 am | #32
Turnabout is fair play.
The GOP “rammed through” tax cuts for the rich.
I see stupid people.
Tom commented:
If they can get 51 votes, is that really “ramming it through?” Why isn’t that just “majority rule?”
gus commented:
Because they are ramming through something they KKOW the people don’t want, and because they are attaching a HEALTHCARE take over to a budget bill for the express purpose of AVERTING the LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
Tom are you a dimwit or just a libtard?
Tom commented:
gus, all I’m saying is that this is how the system is designed to work! It’s a republic, not a democracy. If you don’t like what your representatives are doing, cast your vote as you see fit. If you don’t like having a republic, then go ahead and amend the Constitution.
As far as your point about averting the legislative process — it’s intended to be a majority rule process. There are certain procedural rules which can be used to thwart majority rule — such as the filibuster — and certain procedures which can be used to thwart a filibuster — such as a cloture vote or the use of the reconciliation process, etc. But don’t get all worked up about how putting legislation to an up-or-down vote is “averting the legislative process.” It IS the legislative process.
Robert commented:
Tom
Reconciliation was intended to help passage of a budget bill under difficult circumstances. It was not intended to be applied to a 2,700 page amendment that they couldn’t pass with supermajorities and that would lead to government control of 1/6 of the economy.
This is a repudiation of rules and practices, to say nothing of trampling upon the Constitution. They have their paws in the auto industry, banking, they have proposed taking over college loans completely (NO Constitutional justification whatsoever for that one), they have assumed responsibility for all housing loans (again, where in the Constitution?).
You just go ahead defending the shredding of what is and the indebtedness of future generations, while preparing to go to the government with your hand out for everything you want to do in life.
Robert commented:
“It will be a reconciliation bill,” the Times quoted a Democratic aide as saying. “If Republicans don’t come with any substantial offers, this is what we would do.”
They are so full of crap! Tort reform alone would save at least $100 billion. You would have less need for hospitals and doctors to use legal services, you would have drops in settlement costs, insurance fees, and less testing procedures that doctors do mainly to cover their ass from lawsuit.
Before they went bonkers spending that would have been a notable saving.
Militant Conservative commented:
Did not read the other 47 posts yet. You Dem’s ram this through and you’ll be religating your party to 40 years in the wilderness without any power. If you think the public is pissed off now. Go ahead, make my day.
Militant Conservative commented:
garrett
February 19th, 2010 | 11:32 am | #32
50% of Americans pay no taxes, guess what thier not on the low end of the pay scale.
Good to see that TOM has not learned much lately, I know he is kind of delicate. Robert is right the reconcilliation process is for budget bills only. IF they wish to go this route all items is the bill must be shown to be about the budget. If not they can be systematically stripped out. This can get really fun as the bill would then stipped of alot of pork and useless to the Dem’s. they don’t have the stons to go there.
BooMan commented:
Bush’s 2001 tax cuts passed under budget reconciliation with 58 votes link
Bush’s 2003 tax cuts passed under budget reconciliation rules with 50 votes (plus Cheney’s tie-breaker) link
PackerBronco commented:
As far as your point about averting the legislative process — it’s intended to be a majority rule process.
————–
Nothing of the sort. The government is set up with checks and balances. The three branches of government check each other. The power of the federal government is (or should be) checked by the power of the state and local governments. And another check built into our system is the check on the majority enforces its will on the minority.
The Senate is itself an anti-majoritarian institution since power is distributed based on states, not population. The rules for amending the constitution are anti-majoritarian.
To ignore this is to argue in the face of one of the pillars of our constitution.
Think of it this way: this health care bill, if it should pass, would have a greater impact on our society than many of the constitutional amendments that required much larger majorities to pass. To argue that we should pass such sweeping legislation with 51 votes (or 50 votes with Biden as the tie-breaker) is undermine a basic principal of our government.
To fully appreciate how absurd this is, imagine if in 2012 we have a Republican president and a Republican congress. Would you argue that it would be perfectly okay for congress and the President to overturn the heath care bill. And then 4 years later with a Democrat president and congress it gets re-instated?
And so on. Every 4 years we completely upend the health care structure of the United States as long as we have 50 votes to do it.
That leads to chaos. How could our society function in that fashion?
Certainly 50 (or 51) votes is sufficient for some appropriations and bills, but to argue that we can – or should – totally restructure a large portion of the American economy and a large aspect of each individual’s personal life and security on the strength of 1 vote is utter utter utter madness.
Robert commented:
And the way they are threatening this right before the much-ballyhooed “bi-partisan” conference meeting is about as classless as ushering the Dalai Lama out by the garbage bags.
President Trash-Bag.
He should eat the bill and then it would be where it belongs. In the trash.
Robert commented:
Boo Man #51
“tax cuts” passed under “budget reconciliation”
Exactly. Note the relationship, “tax” and “budget”.
Has nothing to do with “health care”
Jon commented:
If anything is passed via reconciliation (via 51 votes), it can also be undone via 51 votes. Also, the items in the bill have to be related to the budget for reconciliation otherwise they can not be included. This also means that the House has to pass the Senate bill first, otherwise there is nothing to reconcilie. There is no evidence that Speaker Botox has the votes in the House for the Senate Bill.
All this is going to do is piss off the public even more, and make things worse in Nov. for the Dems.
dallasdan commented:
Let’s see how many dems BO, Harry, and Nancy can take down with them. I’m betting too many of the dems are not the fools these three are, and won’t sign-up for political suicide.
Militant Conservative commented:
True dallasdan but the die is cast and the people are out withthe long knives. IF you cannot prove you DID NOT vote for this mess (almost all REPUB’s but Cynthia Snow voted against healthcare). Gonna be a rat killin’ in November. DEMORATS, I lived id dallas during the 1993-4 Republican take over, this is going to be FAR WORSE for the media to spin. LOL