Should the Senate use ‘reconciliation’ to pass health care
reform?
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
“Should the Senate use ‘reconciliation’ to pass health care reform?” Yes: 8 No: 4
? Dave Appling: “Yes, if that’s what it takes. There’s plenty of precedent. This bill is imperfect, but contains far more good than bad. Republicans should not get to torpedo it so as to ‘break Obama,’ the GOP’s openly-stated aim in its unprincipled opposition.
? Bert Berson: “Yes. Anything to cut through the bull and get healthcare started!”
? Chris Bryant: “No, taking a short cut to pass a box of band aids is not the way fix the problems with health care insurance.”
? David Cohen: “Yes. The debate, if you wish to call it that, has gone on long enough. The time to enact this legislation into law is now.”
? Dennis Kennedy: “Yes! As I understand the issue; ‘Reconciliation’ is appropriate and historically used for budget related issues and most, if not all, of the proposed legislation involves budget issues.”
? Julian Mancias: “Yes. I don’t see it passing any other way. Besides, we need to move on to other issues such as unemployment or immigration reform.”
? Linda McNulty: “No, I think it is unethical to use the reconciliation process when 1/2 of the country disagrees with the proposed health care reform. Unfortunately, I suspect if the tables were turned the Republicans would do the same.”
? Henry Miller: “No. Although the previous senate used this trickery, perhaps the current senate can exhibit a bit more bi-partisanship, if they achieve their goal by playing fairly.”
? Lisa Pampuch: “Yes. Health care reform passed by on a 220-215 vote in the House and a different version passed by a 60-40 vote in the Senate. Reconciliation – which means a simple majority rules in the Senate – was used by Republicans under the Bush Administration numerous times and it’s perfectly appropriate and non-controversial for the Democrats to use it now to pass a compromise version of the two bills.”
? Emily Shem-Tov: “Yes, while it is unfortunate that they couldn’t work out their differences and come to agreement in other ways, this seems to be the best next step.”
? Jeff Smith: “NO!!! To ram through such far-reaching legislation – 2000-plus pages that no one really understands, would be immoral and criminal. The majority of Americans do not want it, it will bankrupt our economy, and it’s just wrong.”
? Steve Staloch: “Yes. As the president noted, everything that could be said about health care reform has been said, and just about everyone has said it. Starting over and filibustering are not options It’s time to stop talking and restore the primacy of the up-or-down vote.”
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