The debate over health care reform is finally gasping its last breaths.
Democrats, led by President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have announced they plan on holding a final vote in the coming days. Pelosi keeps assuring us—and, it often seems, herself—that she will be able to marshal her caucus to approve the bill.
Except it looks like neither she nor her Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid, have the votes they need.
Reid, deprived of his filibuster-proof majority and wanting to avoid the indignity of courting Republican votes, will be using a controversial parliamentary tactic called “reconciliation” to get the bill through. Under this plan, the House will adopt the Senate’s previously-passed bill and the two chambers will work out a package of changes to be considered separately. Reid hopes to in this way circumvent the filibuster the bill would inevitably confront if brought before the Senate under normal procedural rules.
Reid’s decision has upset many people who believe that such subterfuge is not becoming of so important a piece of legislation. But it’s nothing compared to what Pelosi is thinking of doing.
According to the Washington Post, Pelosi floated the idea on Monday of using what’s called a “self-executing rule” or a “deem and pass.” In the face of widespread Democratic defection in her chamber, Pelosi may have her members vote for the “reconciliation” changes and just imply that they accepted the Senate bill. In essence, she would pass the bill without it ever coming up for a vote.
Once upon a not-so-distant time, Pelosi, Reid and Obama argued the importance of the filibuster and minority rights. Had George W. Bush and his congressional allies tried something this devious, the Democratic trio would have been up in arms. But now in power, they’re willing to do anything to ram this unpopular legislation through Congress.
The American people do not want this bill. As if the polls showing massive opposition weren’t enough, the fact that neither Reid nor Pelosi, despite huge majorities in their respective chambers, can muster the votes for passage should prove that the bill has little support.
But the Democratic leadership can’t accept that the American people have spoken. They assume we’re too stupid, too short-sighted and too selfish to decide for ourselves what’s in our best interest. The overwhelming rejection of the bill can’t possibly have anything to with the massive costs or special-interest kickbacks contained within it.
No matter how important our leaders think a piece of legislation is, they can’t force it upon us without our consent. Reid and Pelosi have decided to pretend otherwise. Voters should make it clear this November that they don’t appreciate having their will subverted.
Nathaniel French is a junior theater major. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].
