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Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 2 a.m.
In Today's Sun
- Reid bobs and weaves to land health care deal (12-22-09)
- Deal-making gets job done, Reid says (12-22-09)
Sun Coverage
- Obama welcomes ‘historic’ health care advance (12-21-09)
- Jim Gibbons attacks Harry Reid on health care bill (12-21-09)
- Health care bill clears tough Senate test (12-20-2009)
- Health care compromise gives sweet Medicaid deal to Nebraska (12-20-2009)
The Senate is keeping casino hours, racing nearly around the clock to finish the health care reform legislation by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s self-imposed Christmas deadline.
Past deadlines have come and gone, but lawmakers want to move on to pressing topics — jobs, the economy.
Reid engineered a path to passage that involves a series of votes that started at 1 a.m. Monday and could finish by 7 p.m. Christmas Eve.
It does not have to take that long. But Republicans, who oppose the legislation en masse, are using every available procedural tactic to stall or stop the bill — including requiring the full 30 hours of debate afforded each step of the process.
“This is not the naming of a post office,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader.
Reid has returned fire by scheduling votes around the clock, rather than the more gentlemanly approach of, say, during business hours.
Republicans think public opinion is on their side, and they will be rewarded for forcing the vote to the final hour — despite the spectacle of 92-year-old Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia being pushed onto the Senate floor in a wheelchair for the middle-of-the-night votes.
McConnell received rousing applause from fellow Republican senators Monday as they met behind closed doors in what one aide described as a pep-rally atmosphere.
“We’re going to fight to the end,” the Republican aide said. “We’re not leaving here before Christmas Eve.”
Dip you got to quit just getting your news from one source, the experience will open your eyes.
The Republicans would be better off leaving town early - their tails between their legs.
Good one dip...I know MANY people who voted for Obama who regret it now..and say they will vote for WHOMEVER the repulicans put up. Harry Reid is a goner too...
Want a preview of government run health care? Go to the DMV!
Well Lisa, you must be pretty upset that you have to cover the Repubs in this story. You seemed to bob and weave with your other story, of course that was for the Dems.
You have nothing to say about how the Dems. came to passing cloture? You have nothing to add about what the Dems. wrote into this bill?
Seeing that this article is not even 1/3 the length of your bobbing and weaving article tells me you have chose the non-partisan side of the Dems.
This is proof that the media doesn't report the news as it happens, they report the slant as their told.
Santa Harry is about to deliver a large lump of coal to this nation for Christmas.
Hooray for Harry...
If you want federal health care, go to Medicare. No restrictions on pre-existing conditions, no life-time cap on benefits, much lower rates and no death panels in the penthouse suites.
ChunkyFlyRight: If you hate the DMV, can you imagine what you would be charged to register your car if all the roads were private and a large corporation was in charge of your license plate sticker!
Medicare is broke and major changes are on the way for all on Medicare.
The new Obama Medicare will be no more then a shell of the current Medicare, and most seniors will have to go out and buy private insurance to supplement the Obama Medicare.
CarsonNewshound,
I think you are under the false impressions that what the government provides is free. That is not the case. Do not forget that taxes continue to go up. The cost of goods in the US has gone done even though the currency has inflated a bit and that CarsonNewshound, is because of the private sector.
The government does not make money, they take it. At least with business, you normally have a choice but that is not the case with government. If there programs loss money, they take more in taxes, even if you do not use the service. The private sector, when there is competition, brings the prices down.
The lump of coal will be in the form of an enema. Bend over and close your eyes.
Ouch...
Thank you Harry...
You cranky old fools need to get a grip. Michael, if you let ol' Harry from Searchlight, Nevada, stick a hunk of coal up your arse it'll be to filter your crap. It's part of the new health care regiment. Repubs only, because they think their crap don't stink.
Same with the cranky old fools in the Senate & congress. QUIT WITH THE GAME PLAYING, you doddering old fools! It gets you NOTHING. Do these addle-pated nitwits like to hear themselves talk THAT MUCH?
Charcoal filtered crap. Now that's change we can believe in...
Amen, Brother Larry.
We'll clean up Lake Mead.