Dems Blame GOP for Stalling Health Care Debate

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP / CBS)

Senate Republicans are boasting about their health care opposition strategy, and frustrated Democrats are responding in kind. If the GOP keeps up its stall tactics, Democrats said today, they are prepared to stay on the Senate floor to debate health care through Christmas.

After three days of debate, the Senate has yet to actually vote on any amendments to the health care bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced. Democrats are placing the blame on Republicans for the delay, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports. Reid held a special meeting with his party today to discuss how to proceed in the face of a united Republican front.

"At some point, we are going to have to say enough is enough on the stall and start voting," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said.

Democratic members appeared committed to stay and complete health care legislation no matter how long it takes, Nolen reports.

"The general consensus in the room was that we're here, we ought to stay here," said Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who led much of the health care debate in a Senate committee over the summer. "As one member said, if those young men and women -- most of whom are under 25 -- are sitting in some outpost in Afghanistan or Iraq on Christmas eve, we can be here on Christmas eve to deal with health care."

Republicans are not shying away from the fact they are trying to slowly kill Reid's bill.

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg sent a letter to his Republican colleagues on Tuesday laying out the ways the party can slow down the process.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

"We, the minority party, must use the tools we have under Senate rules to insist on a full, complete and fully informed debate on the health care legislation," the letter says.

For their first amendment offered to the bill, Republicans used "an esoteric procedural tactic," according to Roll Call, that would force Reid "to use time-consuming procedures and hold another filibuster-killing vote on whether to restart debate on the bill."

Roll Call also reports that on Tuesday, the Senate Republican Communications Center launched a rapid-response plan to provide real-time rebuttals to Democrats' arguments and amendments.

"Unless Republican leadership comes forward with reasonable approach to these amendments, I think our patience is wearing thin," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said. "They don't want to call these amendments for votes. And we're just not going to sit here forever and watch this."

Updated at 11:20 a.m. ET to correct that Sen. Judd Gregg, not Sen. Jim DeMint, sent out a health care memo.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by chevyhotrod December 3, 2009 9:06 AM EST: by ianlou December 2, 2009 9:41 PM EST
by chevyhotrod December 2, 2009 6:26 PM EST
Preamble to the United States Constitution...
******************************************

Over the last decade, I became sick of Bible Thumpers.

Since Obama's election and the subsequent backlash B.S. from the Right,
I have also become sick of Tea-Baggers and their pathetic attempt to pass themselves off as wise and educated scholars by quoting cherry-pick portions of the constitution, The Ammendments and The Bill of Rights as definitive, if not holy, support for their narrow minded, miopic ASSursions.

I think I will call these morons "Founding Father Thumpers".

No offense intended to the brilliance of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ben Franklin and the rest.

Oh, but you have offended our founding fathers. All I do is quote them and you call me a narrow minded moron.

The brilliance of our founding fathers was for freedom and liberty from government.

Our founding fathers believed in less government, not more.

I have not "cherry-pick portions of the constitution", please provide the portion on the constitution that supports your point of view.

Funny how you call people morons for quoting our founding fathers, and yes you have offended the beliefs and ideas of our brilliant founding, because what you represent and are proposing goes completely against our founding for individual freedom and liberty. We are becoming slaves to the government and you are part of the problem by supporting individuals that go against everything our constitution represents and are blind to the truth.

I guess you think our founders were narrow minded and made myopic Assertions and are morons at best. The Amendments and The Bill of Rights ARE definitive.

By the way, I am not, by any means a bible thumper. I have not been to church in over 25 years. You should not assume anything; it does not support your argument.; Reply to this comment


by lightningF December 3, 2009 7:48 AM EST: Democrats always blaming someone else,They have a majority,but are afraid to run with the ball,because they Know if they do it alone they are toast.Where is the Mainstream media on Climate Gate? Are they going to let Fox News Scoop them again as with ACORN??; Reply to this comment

by sjc_1 December 3, 2009 12:47 AM EST

"We, the minority party, must use the tools we have under Senate..."

That would be delay at all costs in any way that you can. It has been 100 years since T.R. wanted American health care for all our citizens. That is MORE than long enough to wait, NO more stalling!

Reply to this comment


by lightningF December 3, 2009 7:56 AM EST: I do believe the Democrats have a majority? Are they afraid to face the Public,for their Decisions? If they can not convince their own party to vote their way maybe there is something wrong with the bill?

by ianlou December 2, 2009 9:59 PM EST

by chevyhotrod December 2, 2009 6:26 PM EST

"Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon."

Winston Churchill
******************
Perhaps in Churchills day that was true.
Today, most Americans have gotten tired of becoming the ill used horse, pulling a greedy wagon; Too bad the horse allowed to vote, ah?

Reply to this comment


by chevyhotrod December 3, 2009 7:28 AM EST: ianlou,
Churchill?s days were not that long ago. He also said "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

Once half of the American people can realize they can vote politicians into office that will "take care of them" without having to work for it, our democracy will be bankrupt, which is very close to happening.

The bailouts should have never been allowed to happen, this was the greed of government and Wall Street, not the people.

Wake up before it's too late.

I am becoming the ill used horse, I pay my taxes and soon I could be paying 50%-60% of everything I have worked hard for the past 20 years. It has taken me this long to earn a good living and you want to take it all away from me. This will be just in federal taxes, not including State, Local, property & mics taxes. When is enough, enough? At what point will you kill the spirit to go to work and provide for their families that lives within each and every one of us?

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Thomas Jefferson

by rykatspop December 2, 2009 9:39 PM EST

The Republican mantra: "Just say no."

No to Obama.

No, you lied.

No to health care reform.

No to corporate taxes.

No to tarrifs that would stimulate American jobs.

No to worker rights.

No minimum wage.

No family leave act.

No bankruptcy laws that protect honest Americans.

No to banking regulations, but they pretend it matters. Very bogus.

No to environmental protections.

No to consumer rights.

No to anything that would actually BENEFIT the middle class.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no Republicans ever in office again.

Reply to this comment


by lightningF December 3, 2009 7:50 AM EST: Why are you whinning,The Democrats have a Majority? They are just bed wetters afraid to run with the ball,and face the consequences.

by rykatspop December 2, 2009 9:29 PM EST

The Republican party mantra: "Just Say No!" While it was catchy (though dumb) in Reagan's era, now they just apply it to every reasonable issue Americans want movement on. They just say no to:

Meaningful health care reform that actually helps Americans.

No to all those corporate tax proposals they say will kill jobs. What jobs? Corporate America has already gutted good paying factory jobs, and are now working on getting rid of professional jobs that pay well.

No to ending the 2 wars that are wiping out our dedicated troops. How? By dragging out enlistments and doing the stop-loss orders.

No to any stimulus that will create jobs and rebuild our infrastructure.

No to any accountability of corporations that receive govt contracts.

No to Katrina victims thanks to Bush and Cheney lies.

No to any trial for war crimes by Bush and Cheney.

No to womens rights.

No to effective environmental laws and regulations.

No to any Wall Street oversight, but they bark a good game.

No to any consumer protection laws and regulations.

Yes to any deregulation that will separate average Americans from their hard earned money--or what is left of it.

It's not "Drill baby drill." It's "No baby, no!" to all things reasonable.

Reply to this comment


by lightningF December 3, 2009 7:55 AM EST: Whine,Whine,Whine,Maybe the Democrats need to look and see they have a Majority,and stop their whinning and run with the ball,then be prepared to face the consequences.


by ianlou December 2, 2009 8:48 PM EST: The worst thing that can happen to the GOP is that Obama and the Dem led Congress actually accomplish meaningful, helpful, change for the majority of Americans.

If the Dems accomplish this, the GOP is screwed and they know it.
The GOP-er aren't fighting for the best legislation concerning health care reform (while they were in charge, they could care less about health care reform);

They are fighting for their political lives.; Reply to this comment


by velma179 December 2, 2009 8:20 PM EST: The Republicans in the Senate are gleefully signing a death warrant... too bad they didn't read the name on it.

"Republican Party"; Reply to this comment

by us_1776 December 2, 2009 5:45 PM EST

The Republican Party (aka the lackeys of the greedy healthcare insurance companies) has squarely placed "greedy special interests" above the needs of the American people.

The Republican far-right greed-based agenda is now transparent for all to see.

Reply to this comment


by chevyhotrod December 2, 2009 6:26 PM EST: Preamble to the United States Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It says "provide for the common defence"
It says "promote the general Welfare"

It does not say "provide the general Welfare"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."

Thomas Jefferson

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

"Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon."

Winston Churchill


by ginological December 2, 2009 7:17 PM EST: America has one of the worst health care systems in the world, totaly dehumanized and corrupted,
simply, because, "somebody" out there is profiting over our health or scavenging over our death.
Any of politicians, supporting or protecting these system's values, Republican or Democrat,
are true ****** with bloody hands, having their own interest before interest of American people.

See all 4 Replies

by doctor_know December 2, 2009 5:41 PM EST

I have lost all respect for the republican party over the past few years. I cant think of anything constructive that they have done in the past few years.

Reply to this comment


by lightningF December 3, 2009 7:53 AM EST: Stop your bed wetting,liberal whinning the Democrats have a majotiry,but are afraid to run with the ball and face the consequences.