Republicans Set for Last Ditch Senate Assault on Health Care Reform

Republicans Set for Last Ditch Senate Assault on Health Care Reform

by Mike Hall, Mar 24, 2010



Today, Senate Republicans are dipping into their obstructionist toolbox for every last monkey wrench they can find to throw into the works of the Senate’s final action on health care reform.

On top of that, they’ve decided to stick with bankers’ hours and stop work on hearings at 2 p.m. In this latest hold-their-collective-breathe-‘til-they-turn-blue temper tantrum over the health care reconciliation bill, they are halting work on other important legislation. More on that below.

We’re also hearing from workers and union leaders that many employers are beginning to spread misinformation about health care reform and its impact, including threats of benefit cuts and cost hikes. We’ll bring you more as this story develops.

But first, the latest on reconciliation. After the House passed the health care reform bill Sunday night—which President Obama signed into law yesterday—it also passed a bill that fixes certain flaws in the original Senate bill. The fixes are what is before the Senate this week.

That bill—considered under what is called reconciliation—cannot be filibustered and only needs 51 votes to pass. But if any changes are made in the bill, it must go back to the House for another vote. Republican leaders have vowed to us every trick, scam and scheme they can to make changes and force yet another delay and a vote.

The reconciliation rules allow unlimited amendments that must be voted on. The amendments do not have to have anything to do with health care. Beginning as soon as this afternoon, Republicans will launch this “vote-o-rama” in an attempt to either force a change in the bill or force Democrats to vote against issues they normally support, such as amendments that will purport to lower taxes and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.

FULL story at link.

Faced with a flood of amendments, the only logical thing to do is vote no on them all - even if one or two may have some merit. The fascists tactics prove they are not governing in good faith - so why bother with anything they propose?