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Published Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 | 11:04 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 | 5:17 p.m.
Sun Archives
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- Just when it seemed that Senate Democrats were on a path to pass health care reform by Christmas, one Republican senator halted the process Wednesday by demanding the full reading of a 767-page amendment.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma insisted on having the clerks read the entire text of a long-shot amendment to create a national single-payer health care system.
Liberals have historically pursued such a universal care system, but the amendment from Sen. Bernard Sanders, an Independent from Vermont and among the Senate's most progressive members, is highly unlikely to win enough votes for passage.
No such single-payer system is proposed in the health care reform bills in either the House or Senate.
Sanders' legislation is what Washington often calls a message amendment, designed simply to make a statement and put lawmakers on record with their votes.
But Coburn's objection -- backed by the full support of the Republican leadership -- is seriously messing up the floor schedule.
It took the clerk nearly 20 minutes to read the amendment's six-page introduction -- ensuring what is estimated to be at least a 10 to 12 hour reading. Some say the reading could last hours longer.
Democrats were livid, and even staff in the Capitol were asking if the manuever would dash plans to adjourn by Christmas.
"We know what's going on here, they want to slow this down and stop us," said Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat. "Does this sound like a good faith effort?"
Coburn, who relishes his place among senators as Dr. No, said he was merely trying to let the public know the contents of the amendment if single-payer is a longterm goal of Democrats.
"We're going to understand what single-payer's all about," Coburn said. "We're going to read it and let the American people see."
Within a couple of hours, Sanders withdrew his amendment, ending the reading. The clerks had reached about page 40.
Coburn declined to say if he would make similar moves on the next steps, which are criticial catch-all amendments to begin moving the bill to a final vote, but indicated that seemed unlikely.
But it may not matter.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to begin taking procedural steps now to finish the bill by Christmas.
Reid, however, was undeterred, and told reportes in brief hallway remarks the Senate would finish the bill before leaving.
When exactly that might be remains to be seen.
51%-say no to healthcare bill 38%- say yes.
Pass this bill at your own risk Democrats. You will pay the price for it next year.
and what's funny is that all the liberals will say the GOP is evil for doing this. yes, god forbid they'd actually want to take the time to READ what's in that bill.
Oh no... Harry's got more problems...
Shame on Coburn for wanting to let us know what is in this secret bill. He is such an evil man. Keep crying libs, this bill is Obamas death nail!!
Coburn is brilliant at holding up bills. Good work. Maybe this will give us time to have an intelligent and rational conversation about how to handle this health care problem.
Like this: http://reason.com/archives/2009/12/15/wh...
The Republicans are the heros here. This Bill that Scary Reid is trying to cram down our throats is a disaster. An overwhelming majority of this nation do not want this! Democrats are committing political suicide. Harry Reid's ignorance and arrogance is why he will be fired.
Shelly Berkley, Dina Titus and Harry Reid, each ignored us on this issue AND up for election in November folks. Let's teach them what happens to politicians who serve their own agenda's and not the people!
As all the libs are curled up in the fetal position screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO................ The liberals kryptonite is common sense.... Look everybody the emperor has no clothes.........
Another exapmple of the GOP having no ideeas.........just stall.
Just once, I wish I would hear a legitimate idea form someone in the GOP.
"Democrats were livid, and even staff in the Capitol were asking if the manuever would dash plans to adjourn by Christmas."
Why does Tom Coburn hate Christmas so much?
This will be the down fall of Reid and many Democrats. Once the public finds out how we have been played by our elected officials we will start taking heads. Joe Wilson wasn't only right when he yelled at Obama for lying that illegals weren't included in this bill, he should have been directing those chants towards Harry Reid and his ilk for taking out SAVE, which was put into the bill to prohibit illegals from being able to recieve healthcare.
Harry also is allowing any immigrant to recieve health care by simply showing a Social Security card.
Harry is also allowing we the people not only to pay for our part of the health bill but to let us to pay for the illegals part of the bill also.
We the people will also be allowed to pay for interpretors in hospitals to help non English speaking people to understand what is going on in their medical world.
Harry also has fines and jailtime for americans who can't afford to pay for their share of their health care. As for illegals they don't have to worry, their payment will be taken care of by taxes.
Is this why Harry has been having closed door meetings with the Democrats? So the Republicans won't find out what's going on and releasing the news to the public. Is this what is known as a democracy?
I,m all for letting the Republicans taking as long as they want and expose what they can. It is time for our politicians to own up for their actions.
Transparency was promised, and transparency we will have. We can't have another "Dick Cheney behind closed doors" situation.
Shouldn't they have reqat the whole thing before they vote to cram this down our throats??? Now this is remarkable, that this statement makes the news!!! They want to make history with taking over our health insurance & they don't even read it!!!! Maybe I could sell these idiots a car without them seeing it or driving it>
RE: paul02085
That's entirely subjective to the poll that you're referring to, which is also subjective to your own political belief system.
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollRepo...
77% want a public option. If we use that poll, the Democrats will only be punished if they DO NOT pass a bill.
airmikee your numbers are from June-August. That's before the public truly knew the extent of the evil contained in this bill. Heck Harry Reid didn't even have a bill at that time! You might want to report some current opinion numbers.
When people found out that they could go to jail for not paying the healthcare tax so abortions could be publicly funded a few minds were changed.
@ stevem, BetOnBlack, releggneh:
Read the damn article before you comment. You all suggest that "we should know what's in this secret bill" or "they should read what they're voting on" etc., but what Coburn asked to have read is an amendment by an independent senator that was guaranteed NOT to be in the bill. If what you wanted was really legislative transparency, you wouldn't cheer on stalling tactics involving dead amendments. Or you just didn't bother to actually read the article and commented anyway, exposing your own ignorance. I'm guessing the latter.
Oh no, not again...
"The abortion issue, and to a lesser extent Medicare cuts, remain major points of contention as at least one Democratic senator -- Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- indicated he'd break from party lines to strike down the sweeping legislation if the bill does not toughen restrictions to ensure taxpayer dollars don't fund abortion."
A lot you you people must own health care insurance company stocks.
Hey liberals....Nanny Nanny Boo Boo............
Children.
Harry Reid's Bill is a bailout for the insurance industry and no help to families struggling to pay for healthcare.
Two thirds of all Americans and 59% of doctors believe that a national healthcare system (Medicare-for-All) is the best way to fix our broken healthcare system and deliver high value healthcare in the United States. It is also the most cost effective, by providing more healthcare with less administrative costs.
Senate Amendment 2837 would create publicly administered, privately delivered healthcare (that most Americans want) and is currently being read in the Senate against the wishes of Harry Reid and other Democrats.
America is the only country that delivers healthcare that's set up to generate profits, not healthcare. This needs to stop!
'Yet it [the public option] was always a sideshow that helpfully distracted the Left, the Right, and the mainstream from what shrewd Democrats and their allies at AHIP have really wanted all along: an individual mandate forcing all Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law."
"The question now is whether the Left, the Right, and the mainstream will recognize the Senate health care bill for what it is: a massive $450 billion bailout for private insurance companies that will drive health insurance premiums and taxes higher while reducing quality, all for the benefit of a small cadre of Democrats with a preternatural need to control other people's health care."
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/12/1...
A lot of us have faith in our Doctors and our existing health care system.
"Wanted all along - an individual mandate forcing all Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law."
Can see the street sweeps of the homeless now - operation health care - no proof of health care, no money?
Free escort to prison where 3-hots, a cot and your state furnished health care await - see, the plan worked, health care for everyone - hip, hip hooray!
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LarryVegas - your doctor must be a quack 'cuz you're still mentally ill. Maybe single payer or universal health care could remedy that.
Moogie: I think you are right on this one. If we had single payer or universal health care in place, I would probably be dead...
What am I missing, why would you put up a long-shot amendment to create a national single-payer health care system if this effort is dead?
Maybe Sanders had to introduce this amendment to placate some of his large campaign contributors.
Or maybe he wants to run as a Democrat in 2010 and his effort might endear him to the Democrats in Vermont.
Other then that, I can't figure it out either...
I have to read, know and obey every jot and tittle of the bills (thousands of pages every session) that are hand trucked onto the floor, one congressman shouts, "I'll vote for yours, you vote for mine" the gavel falls, "Sold American." I have to read the bills, pay for the bills, obey the bills and ..now ..I think Every Single Bill in either Chamber should be read outloud. Every single Congressman or Senator who is taking a public pay check should be required to sit and hear every word of every document that is being considered or voted on in either Chamber and then the President should have to hear it read outloud before he signs it. Appoint a proctor and anyone who dozes or talks during the reading; have the proctor hit them with a switch.
If they can't read it then have it read to them..because I am required to know..and pay and obey every stinking word!
xtra is right on point.
And Congressmen should be required to sign a statement stating that they have read or had read to them every word of the bill, and that they understand every word...
This just in:
Single-payer health care plan dies in Senate
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The liberals' longtime dream of a government-run health care system for all died Wednesday in the Senate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont vowed it will return when the realization dawns that private insurance companies "are no longer needed."
Too bad, Liberals. So sorry, "Progressives." You will get nothing, and like it!
This is a huge political failure for Obama, Reid and Pelosi. No other way to spin it.
Goodbye, Scary Reid, in 2010.
Sooooo Too Big To Fail Senator Harry Greid could not stop Sanders' message amendment.
Why are all these Democrats going Rogue on Harry
LarryVegas, you are off to a good start. When this boondoggle starts to bankrupt the country let them step up with their stolen wealth and donate it all to bail the government out. Harry Greid must have billions of bucks stashed away from all the crooked deals he has been involved in.
I am not a historian but didn't some of the brave and honest men who founded this country vow their good name and fortune to its success. As I recall a number of them lost both.
Then; Washington, Jefferson, Payne, Adams, and many more. All giant, intelligent, brave men. Now; Greid, Piglosi, Barney Frank, Biden, Schumer and many more. All weasley, slimy, greedy, despicable, ignorant nothings.
Those who presently have a good deal on health care insurance will not risk a lesser deal in order to benefit of the lives of their countrymen. They are fewer in number than they would have you believe. So, they are extra loud to appear more numerous, and aparrently extra sloppy in their arguments in their zeal to win. The cost is their integrity. The winners are the richest doctors and most profitable insurance companies in the world.
80% of Americans are satisfied with their health care.
75% of Americans are satisfied with their health insurance companies.
Kinda says it all, doesn't it...
keep up the good work Senator Coburn.....get these stupid bills thrown out...
Pass Health Care Reform already!!!!!!....The Republicans are going to fight amongst themselves over the coming years, playing R.I.N.OS vs. Conservatives. Get the meat of the bills passed to a unification congressional committee , fight it out making it ready for President Obama to sign. I can't wait until Republicans fight each other saying, "I'm Ronald Reagan's Legacy!" Find your own legacy and stop kissing up to non-citizens entities called corporations.
80% of Americans are satisfied with their health care.
75% of Americans are satisfied with their health insurance companies.
I am satisfied with my health care provider, how about you???
Harry's dreaming about that rocking chair on the porch in Searchlight.
Gee, from her opening statement, one can only wonder how slanted Lisa Mascaro is about her reporting.....
Looks like the Sun is trying to make the news, not report it.
WHOOPS!!!! Looks like another liberal news source doesn't know the difference between OPINION and news reporting. Imagine THAT !
LarryVegas - xtra is indeed spot on about having every bill read before passage.
Maybe that would knock some sense into these people that think they need to eat a cow in a single bite.
Why we need to do this in a SINGLE bill is beyond me, unless you want to take into account that we are being led down the path of another entitlement NOT supported by the Constitution being foisted upon us by our liberal friends.
They can't dazzel us with logic, so they are going for the baffel'em with BS route.
Speakinup asks a good question about the gigantic health care bill... "Why do we need to do this in a SINGLE bill..."
The only good reason I can think of, is that Obama and his Liberal friends want a complete government takeover of our health care system. They don't really care about the uninsured or seniors.
It's all about their socialist agenda...