SOUTHERN ARIZONA – Clearly taken aback by the uproar in opposition to government-run health care at the hands of concerned citizens, Democrats are considering a strategy that would break the legislation into separate parts, making it easier for them to cram it through the legislative process with less political support.
The “reconciliation” plan, according to the Wall Street Journal, would enable Democrats to pass the more expensive portion of the health care bill with only Democratic votes, using a loophole in the system that bypasses the regular 60-vote cloture filibuster rule.
Republicans are crying foul to the idea, arguing that it breaks Obama’s pledge to restore bipartisanship to the halls of Congress by strong-arming clearly unpopular legislation through the process without support from both parties.
“You’re talking about the exact opposite of bipartisan,” remarked Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. “You’re talking about running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River.
Polls indicate increasing opposition to the health care initiative and Republicans in Congress are beginning to follow along. But Democrats are nevertheless decisively pursuing health care to the detriment of public opinion. “Patience is not unlimited, and we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary,” said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
In essence, even though the American people and half of Congress oppose government control of health care, some Democrats in Washington are determined to push it through anyway, using “any legislative means necessary”.
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