Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 3, 2009 - Dem's Actions on Health Care and Cap-And-Tax Contribute to America's Frustration
This morning, Senators and Representatives attended a Joint Session of Congress in the House chamber for an address from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Senate will resume consideration of the unemployment insurance extension bill, H.R. 3548 and post-cloture debate of the Reid-Baucus substitute amendment. Yesterday, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the Reid-Baucus substitute amendment to H.R. 3548. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has also filed cloture on the underlying bill.
This is a busy week politically, with today’s elections, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s apparent intention to take up her 2,000 page $1 trillion health care bill garnering the lion’s share of news coverage. In response, House Republicans have set up a “Reading Room” today from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m, where they will read through the Pelosi Health Care bill. Click to view live via a webcast . Click to download the unamended Pelosi bill.
The Washington News Observer released the following quotes from their interview of Rep. Allyson Schwartz (R-PA) where she evidences Democrats talking about how they want to let Americans keep their private insurance while in the very same interview noting that there will be a “very strong public option” in their bill:
In addition. there is some Senate action on another major issue worth keeping an eye on. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is preparing to attempt to push her thousand-page tax-raising carbon cap-and-trade bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee this week, over the objections of Republicans.
According to Politico, “Barbara Boxer may not only force her climate bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee without any Republican votes; aides say she could also do it without any Republicans in the room at all. Boxer (D-Calif.) could exploit a loophole in committee rules that will allow her to approve the bill with a simple majority of the 12 Democrats on the committee, even if no Republicans are present. Republicans have vowed to boycott the proceeding. This end run around Republicans — ignoring the usual rules that require at least two Republicans to be present for a quorum — could further hinder the chances for an already troubled cap-and-trade bill.”
Republicans are not pleased with the partisan manner Boxer is handling her sweeping climate bill. The Wall Street Journal reports, “Six ranking Republican U.S. senators Monday warned the head of the environment committee that pushing ahead with a vote on a landmark climate bill this week would ‘severely damage’ the chances of passing the legislation.”
Boxer wants to hold a vote without a full analysis from the EPA. According to the WSJ, “Although the Environmental Protection Agency has issued a short analysis of the Senate bill, the agency said a comprehensive analysis wouldn't be finished for a few more weeks.” As Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), ranking Republican on the EPW Committee, said, “[Y]ou can't properly consider a 1,000-page bill to restructure the entire American economy without a full economic analysis of its costs on jobs, consumers, families, and small businesses.”
Even Democrats are uncomfortable with Boxer’s partisan approach. A Democrat aide told Politico, “She poisoned the waters.” And “[Sen. John] Kerry, say Democratic aides, has tried to distance himself from Boxer’s committee — even though the committee is debating the legislation he sponsored.”
Democrats do not have a great track record on bipartisanship and transparency when it comes to their favored climate legislation. When the House version was jammed through this summer, Republicans were allowed only one vote on an alternative and no opportunity to amend the bill on the floor. Further, Democrat leaders added a last minute addition to the already massive bill just hours prior to the final vote.
Americans should keep all this in mind as Democrats attempt to rush a 1,000 page energy tax bill through Senate committees and a 2,000 page tax-hiking Medicare-cutting health bill through the House. No wonder only 25% of Americans said they approved of the job Congress was doing in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Clearly, moves like Boxer’s, Reid and Pelosi are contributing to Americans’ deep sense of frustration with Washington, DC.
Tags: Barbara Boxer, cap-and-trade, deficit, increased taxes, Nancy Pelosi, nationalized health care, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
This is a busy week politically, with today’s elections, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s apparent intention to take up her 2,000 page $1 trillion health care bill garnering the lion’s share of news coverage. In response, House Republicans have set up a “Reading Room” today from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m, where they will read through the Pelosi Health Care bill. Click to view live via a webcast . Click to download the unamended Pelosi bill.
The Washington News Observer released the following quotes from their interview of Rep. Allyson Schwartz (R-PA) where she evidences Democrats talking about how they want to let Americans keep their private insurance while in the very same interview noting that there will be a “very strong public option” in their bill:
Quote 1: "For many Members of Congress they take, like federal employees, have access to insurance through their workplace, and we're going to continue that option. And some of the members are actually thinking if they could get into it they would but of course we are trying to keep the employer based coverage, which I think is what the Republicans want us to do so some of this is not very genuine in my opinion."The two goals are not mutually exclusive. Does anyone really believe that creating 111 new federal bureaucracies, as the Democrat bill does, does not equal a government takeover of health care in our country?
Quote 2: "Well there's going to be a public option and it's going to be a strong public option. And I think the final decision is being made as to how we reimburse hospitals and doctors."
In addition. there is some Senate action on another major issue worth keeping an eye on. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is preparing to attempt to push her thousand-page tax-raising carbon cap-and-trade bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee this week, over the objections of Republicans.
According to Politico, “Barbara Boxer may not only force her climate bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee without any Republican votes; aides say she could also do it without any Republicans in the room at all. Boxer (D-Calif.) could exploit a loophole in committee rules that will allow her to approve the bill with a simple majority of the 12 Democrats on the committee, even if no Republicans are present. Republicans have vowed to boycott the proceeding. This end run around Republicans — ignoring the usual rules that require at least two Republicans to be present for a quorum — could further hinder the chances for an already troubled cap-and-trade bill.”
Republicans are not pleased with the partisan manner Boxer is handling her sweeping climate bill. The Wall Street Journal reports, “Six ranking Republican U.S. senators Monday warned the head of the environment committee that pushing ahead with a vote on a landmark climate bill this week would ‘severely damage’ the chances of passing the legislation.”
Boxer wants to hold a vote without a full analysis from the EPA. According to the WSJ, “Although the Environmental Protection Agency has issued a short analysis of the Senate bill, the agency said a comprehensive analysis wouldn't be finished for a few more weeks.” As Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), ranking Republican on the EPW Committee, said, “[Y]ou can't properly consider a 1,000-page bill to restructure the entire American economy without a full economic analysis of its costs on jobs, consumers, families, and small businesses.”
Even Democrats are uncomfortable with Boxer’s partisan approach. A Democrat aide told Politico, “She poisoned the waters.” And “[Sen. John] Kerry, say Democratic aides, has tried to distance himself from Boxer’s committee — even though the committee is debating the legislation he sponsored.”
Democrats do not have a great track record on bipartisanship and transparency when it comes to their favored climate legislation. When the House version was jammed through this summer, Republicans were allowed only one vote on an alternative and no opportunity to amend the bill on the floor. Further, Democrat leaders added a last minute addition to the already massive bill just hours prior to the final vote.
Americans should keep all this in mind as Democrats attempt to rush a 1,000 page energy tax bill through Senate committees and a 2,000 page tax-hiking Medicare-cutting health bill through the House. No wonder only 25% of Americans said they approved of the job Congress was doing in the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Clearly, moves like Boxer’s, Reid and Pelosi are contributing to Americans’ deep sense of frustration with Washington, DC.
Tags: Barbara Boxer, cap-and-trade, deficit, increased taxes, Nancy Pelosi, nationalized health care, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 1:31 PM - Post Link
1 Comments:
The Democrats simply cannot let go of Cap and Trade---a bill which if enacted would destroy the American economy and reduce the living standand of every American, except for those few (very few) working in those favored industries, and even there the outlook my not be good.
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