Harry Reid said there were over 100 Republican additions to the Healthcare bill

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Must be talking about Senate version(s). I have to assume that most of the additions are designed to dilute the impact and protect the insurance companies, delay activation, provide for triggers, etc. since they are the additions of people who don't want any bill at all if they had their preference.

Here's my question - since they're not going to vote for it anyway, why should we keep their inclusions? We will have a crappier bill due to their input and they will walk away with clean hands after helping to design weak legislation.

If I were Harry Reid, that is what I would do:

I would put every single one of their additions in a separate rider to the bill. If the Repubs vote for the major bill, then the rider can be voted on as well. If they don't vote for the major bill, then it would be clear they were negotiating in bad faith to begin with and we drop the rider and get the better, stronger bill without their dilutions.


It's harder of course to apply the same policy to the Blue Dogs who are doing the work of the Republicans for them.

[prostomulgus]

1. I wouldn't bother with the rider

Reid should just delete all the repuke ammendments. We don't need them.

In general, Reid should just ignore the repukes -- they're unimportant now.

[KharmaTrain]

2. "Regular Order"...

I didn't hear Senator Reid's exact quote. I do know there are many "ammendments" the GOOP have in both House & Senate...all with one purpose...to poison any bill that doesn't suit the fancy of their lobbyist buddies.

Since we still live in the last vestiges of a representative democracy, all voices should have a say. Whether that opinion carries the day is up to the sub-committees or the entire Senate or House to vote up or down.

While we know the rushpublicans have no interest in the care and welfare of the American people (listening to Tom Prices lies this morning make me physically ill), all they're doing is trying to stonewall and delay and this is how they can do it.

Let's put the shoes on the other feet for a moment before you say the GOOP should be totally shut out (which I have to admit isn't a bad idea)...it wasn't that long ago that Democrats were in as big a hole in numbers as the GOOP is now. Say they wanted to push another tax cut for the rich. Wouldn't you want Democrats to fight it whichever way they can?

[spanone]

3. and why is harry proud of this?

[adamuu]

4. oh, cool. this means we can count on a few Republican votes

I mean, if not, why bother?

I like your plan. You should send it to Harry Reid

[CanonRay]

5. They'll all vote against it anyway...

so why do we let them water down our bill. We let them screw with it, then they always turn around and vote against it. Are our leaders just stupid or what? Watch and see what finally happens, I guarantee it.:spank:

[spanone]

6. harry also said we were trying to 'ram the legislation through' harry sucks.