Explainer: How the House Could Pass Health Care Reform with One Vote

By: Marc Ambinder
Topics: Health Care

(Credit: AP/CBS)

Here's a handy explanation of the plan Democrats are considering to pass a final version of health care reform legislation through the House. For more, check out this piece from the Washington Post.

Instead of taking two separate votes in the House -- one on the very unpopular Senate bill and another on a bill that fixes the Senate bill -- the proposed rule, which has been used Republicans more often than Democrats, would basically combine the two bills into one.

While Nancy Pelosi said she "liked" the plan "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill," Democrats would STILL have to take an up or down vote on that Senate bill -- but they'll do so AT THE SAME TIME as they take a vote on the reconciliation bill that would fix the Senate bill.

They're still on the hook for the vote. They're still voting on health care.

They're just using a parliamentary maneuver to make it slightly more palatable. But only slightly. It's Constitutional -- the Congress gets to define its own rules and gets to decide what "passing" a bill means.

The problem is that Republicans have successfully spun this already as Democrats figuring out how to pass health care without voting on it. That's not true, but the perception matters: Democrats have been hurt by the notion that they put the health care legislation together using backroom deals that reward industry and favored constituencies.

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder is CBS News' chief political consultant. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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by Jason_Clearbrook March 17, 2010 1:35 PM EDT: @reformms:

I've seen that almost verbatim, many times before and it lost its value on the first reading. You even have the same bad spacing between numbered points, you lazy bum!

1) Obesity. (we are *hugely* overrepresented in that category -- check the statistics!)

2) People coming here for VERY expensive treatment that CANNOT be gotten anywhere in those other "civilized" countries.

3) Emergency Room care for everyone, regardless of abilty to pay or citizenship status. Obama and Company use THIS arguement to show that we do pay for *some* (life threatening and immediate, acute care) procedures for everyone anyways. Stop paying for "tourists" (as they are usually called in EuroSpeak) and we can drive costs down like they do. (I am not for that suggestion, BTW. I prefer for them to get treatment still!)

These things have more to do with our costs being higher, mortality rates being higher, and life expectancy being lower than lack of OBAMACARE does!

Some points in the bill are good. OVERALL it is bad. Go back to the drawing board and do it one piece at a time and do those things that garner the most agreement. That is what I and the MAJORITY of Americans want!

;'{P~~~~; Reply to this comment


by Jason_Clearbrook March 17, 2010 1:22 PM EDT: "Deem and Pass" has one VERY REAL and Serious problem. The LAW that the Democrats plan on using to avoid having to overcome the absolutely certain Filibuster in the Senate REQUIRES, in simple and plain language, that the Bill being amended using Budget Reconciliation Procedures *MUST* be passed into law first. The Constitution of the United States, specifies explicitly *WHEN* a bill is passed and Considered Law. Put the two of these together, and "Deem and Pass" fails in this specific situation. I expect at least one Republican will get on record and object as a point of order, without which, the Democrats will argue they had unanimous consent to proceed. (Which will be a LIE)

This cart before the horse trick would work, EXCEPT for that language, which cannot be argued to be extraneous. It was put there for a purpose, and NO exceptions are spell out in the Law for this, Unlike having Biden Step in to Over-rule the Parliamentarian to get items past the Byrd Rule that really should be stopped by it. Changing the abortion language for Stupak may or may not survive such a challenge, but certainly some other points would fail flat out and have to have Biden Squash the Parliamentarian in order to get it in.

Fair explanation is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(United_States_Congress)

If you want, you *can* wade through the actual text of the code, but although it is *not* as huge as the 2,500 plus pages of the bill that few voting on have read entirely, it is still not for the faint of heart. If you are a Lawyer, you could probably wade through it, and would also know where to find it. If someone wants to argue the clear language, YOU quote the Law and I will then refute your argument.

This sets the stage for Supreme Court Review, Federal Stays by Judges, with some Federal Districts overturning others, and Superior Courts disagreeing with each other. The Democrats should eye the composition of the Court and the High likelihood that one of their favorites is over 90 and has expressed his intent to resign, just not when.

Remember the Filibuster that the Democrats have to avoid? Well, they need that same magic number to install a Justice into the Supreme Court. After pulling this stunt, Going Thermonuclear, Good luck with that. The Republicans can and will stonewall, with the blessing of the majority of Americans. Obama will shoot his wad and have no little legacy to leave behind! I will law odds that it will not survive judicial review!; Reply to this comment


by tsigili March 17, 2010 9:21 AM EDT: Improper conduct, dictatorial approach, and wrong for America......that's what it really is.

Come November, they will feel the wrath of the people.; Reply to this comment


by bumpedoff1 March 17, 2010 1:20 AM EDT: They can not pay for it; Reply to this comment

by reformss March 16, 2010 7:09 PM EDT

Open letter to Members of congress about health care reform :

Dear Members of congress ,
Here are questions for You :

1 - Why we are the only industrial country on earth not have health care for all ? Look at all countries in EU ,England ,France , Italy ,Germany , Japan , Korea ,Canada,Israel ,Spain , ...... Even dictatorship countries like Cuba ,Iran ......offer health care for their citizens .
Do you think we are smarter than the rest of the world ? if You say We can not afford it why we can afford $ 700 billions a year or $ 7 trillion in 10 years on military ( spend on bombs & guns ) ?
What do you expect people around the world think about us when they see We bring injured Dog from Iraq here for treatment ,while we left 50 millions of our own people with out medical care ? ,for sure they think We are insane !!!.
Is your heart breaking when you see thousands of people get in line at midnight under cold weather each time they have FREE check up ? how about a woman never has chance to see doctor in 27 years ?

2 - Do you and your family have health insurance if Yes so why not 50 millions of your fellow citizens NOT ?

3 - How would you feel when any member of your family dies because of having no health insurance ? Think about 45 thousands of your fellow citizens and children die every year because of laking health care .

4 - Children are future of the country , How our sick ,dump unhealthy children and young people can compete with Chinese , Japanese , European children in the future ?.our nation will be strong or not depend on their health , why we not invest on them for the healthy nation ? .

5 - Millions of people use Emergency rooms as primary care .Thousands of Americans file bankrupt every year because of health care bills ,and at the end we still have to pay for them any way, why you are not find the smarter way ?

6 - Why we spend the most on health care but still have 50 millions with out health care with broken system .
7- why don't You learn any thing from housing crisis ? Like housing cost in the past ,health care cost now is sky rocket ,many experts predict the next big crisis will be health care , millions people may die if health care reform failed.

Businesses & companies have to pay to much for health care ,our products become so expensive compare to other countries.
Many talent & skill people being wasted because they have do the job they don't like for health care.
Many inventions & new idea never become new business because the system hold people as hostages , people can not open business because they afraid losing their health insurance.
No wonder unemployment is so high because Jobs can not be created .
Once the health care reform pass , many skills & talents will be discovered , new businesses will be open with new inventions ,new ideas .American products will be exported around the world Instead of import too much from China , many jobs will be created .
Super power special interests have super voice , millions of families have no voice .many comments from Internet ,media may be posted by special interests ,millions of people may not even have Internet access .
Please forget about politic , It can be haft empty & haft full bottle of water story .
Many people support or oppose may not tell full story . Think about many years a go 99 % of people believed the earth was flat .Remember back at the time when many of us believed Women should not be allowed to vote ?
Not long ago 80 % of people opposed medicare & social security bill at that time .
After 9/11 80 % of us believed war on Irag was good idea . some times special interest control story ,tell people the story they want and control mind of people , so please forget about politic.
Please stand up and do what is right for future of our country .I believe if you vote YES on health care reform ,history will remember you as hero of our great nation .

Take an action , pass health care reform NOW.

Reply to this comment


by stychokiller March 17, 2010 1:46 AM EDT: @reformss:
-- [quote]Open letter to Members of congress about health care reform : ...[/quote], etc.
Here's an opposing letter for you:
Here are seven things that a good attempt at Health Insurance reform should do:

1. Equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and
individually owned health insurance have the same tax benefits.
Now employer health insurance benefits are fully tax-deductible
(for the Employer, that is!), but individual health insurance is not
(So sorry, middle-class, wage-slave!).

2. Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing
across state lines. We should all have the legal right to purchase health
insurance from any insurance company in any state and we should be able to
use that insurance wherever we live. With no real competition in CA, is
it any wonder that Blue Cross can raise their rates around 39%?

3. Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.
These mandates have increased the cost of health insurance by billions of dollars.
What is insured and what is not insured should be determined by individual
customer preferences and not through special-interest lobbying. Why should a
single man have to pay extra for OB-Gyn coverage, for example?

4. Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay
insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Perhaps then
Doctors can go back to ordering medical tests when they're necessary and not
just to cover their @ss, when dealing with some lawsuit-happy patient!

5. Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health care treatments
cost. Ever see a price list in a Doctor's office? Neither have I, yet we're
expected to pay $?? whenever we get an appointment!

6. We need to face up to the actuarial fact that Medicare is heading towards
bankruptcy and enact reforms that create greater patient empowerment, choice
and RESONSIBILITY. Too many people (especially their children!) order Doctors
to "Spare No Expense" when it comes to saving granny's life, even though she's
been bed-ridden and on a ventilator for the last year. With no Quality of life,
just what are these people trying to save?

7. Revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax
deductible donation to help millions of people who have no insurance.
In Minnesota, we can volunteer to spend some extra tax for a Wildlife fund,
why not a "People's Health Fund?"

Note that current proposals in Congress do none of the these things!

"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald
the end of the republic." ? Benjamin Franklin

Why is it so HARD for Decepticratic supporters to see alternatives? Does the koolaid make you deaf and BLIND, as well as Stupid?

by reformss March 16, 2010 7:08 PM EDT

I am sick of republicans ,I will never vote for them again .
They are so crazy people .The health care reform bill now is similar to their bill back in 1993 ,so why they oppose It ???
according to Republican party Sarah Palin is the smartest one in group and here is what She said " We used to hustle on over the border for health care ....and I think,isn't that kind of ironic now ? " She admitting that her family used to go to Canada for medical treatment when she was a child , Canada has a single -payer system , which Palin oppose ! (Too bad for Canadian tax payers )
Limbaugh the second smart one in the group also said " I'll just tell you this, if this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented -- I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica." .well too bad ,Costa Rica has had health care for all in 60 years already.( should Costa Rica taxpayers cover health care for this mad man ? )
Republicans :
Don't You learn any thing from housing crisis ? like housing cost in the past ,health care cost is out of control .the next crisis will be health care crisis if health care reform failed ,millions of people may die .
please forget about Republicans ,pass health care reform NOW.

Reply to this comment


by CBSisCommunist5 March 17, 2010 1:17 AM EDT: DEMOCRAT MAJORITY in both houses and you blame the insignificant Republican MINORITY ?


by triprince March 16, 2010 4:10 PM EDT: Last time they say the bill is not good enough was 16 YEARS ago. It will never be good enough for people who think they will never get sick. And like 16 years ago, people really don't know what they are throwing away.; Reply to this comment


by N369RM March 16, 2010 3:57 PM EDT: Obama got into bed with the drug companies over a YEAR ago in a back room deal with no promised C-span.

http://theohiolaborlawyers.wordpress.com/

This bill stinks because of all the back room deals and Obama is the reason we got them!; Reply to this comment

by IndepTex20 March 16, 2010 3:11 PM EDT

The polls say the overwhelming majority do not want the bill in it's current form. The Marxist in the White House said yesterday in Ohio, "Forget the polls, let's do what the people want, let's pass this healthcare bill"..................LOL

Better yet he also said yesterday that the reform bill would reduce premiums by 3000%.................so, if the bill goes through does the government owe me money for my health insurance!?

He's an idiot............AND a Marxist!

Reply to this comment


by pasmalltown March 16, 2010 10:06 PM EDT: Let's all take a "poll" to determine if you're an idiot - who knows you might make some money for your health insurance. Polls are nice but you can't base an argument soley on them.... and you surely can't believe you speak for the majority based on a poll(s). To have an opinion is nice, but try not to stretch it past you and your circle of friends..............