Playbook for the Senate Health Care Debate

[bigtree]

from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/weekinreview/22herszenhorn.html?_r=2&ref=weekinreview&pagewanted=print


Thrust and Parry on the Senate Floor

Unless the Sunday morning news programs are buzzing about how the Senate health care bill was unexpectedly blocked on a procedural vote Saturday night, lawmakers have all headed home for Thanksgiving, and to rest up for what is likely to be a legislative floor fight of galactic proportions through much of December.

But even if they haven’t headed home, senators will be readying every parliamentary weapon for use in the debate by the full Senate, whenever that begins.

Some of the clashes will be for show, intended to appeal to various constituencies watching on C-Span. But much of the parliamentary arsenal will be employed with a purpose — stripping out the proposed government-run insurance plan, for instance, adding tougher language on medical malpractice lawsuits, or tightening restrictions on insurance coverage for abortions.

There are tactics designed to force votes on pet issues, and other tactics to avoid votes when lawmakers do not want to go on record with a position.

Simple as it might sound, the most fearsome tactic available to any senator is the ability to burn time, to drag out the debate in ways that can grind legislative business to a halt and leave the Senate caught in an interminable purgatory.

. . . So, aficionados of legislative war-games, grab this playbook and settle in.

[Laelth]

1. Useful. Thanks. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[goclark]

2. This historic news is taking 2nd place to Sarah and her stupid book

I heard one mention " It was a good day for Obama because Clinton didn't get this far."

That's really all I remember hearing.

Is there a video of the final vote-- was it replayed over and over and over like Sarah's book?


Maybe I missed it.

[barbtries]

3. i think we the constituents

should be very busy letting our congress critters know where we stand on the health care issue. greasy wheel gets the grease! :)

[bigtree]

5. Guide to Contacting Your Congresscritters

contact U.S. Senators . . . http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm


* You can direct postal correspondence to your senator as follows:

The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator (Name)

For correspondence to a Senate committee or to a Senate committee chair:

(Name of Committee)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

or

The Honorable (Name)
Chairman, Committee on (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Telephone-

You may phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at [phone]. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.



Find Your Senator and Contact Info:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Find and Write Your Representative:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

[imdjh]

4. I hope they all choke or burst at the seams. I'm sick of them, all of them.