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Is Pelosi's 'Deem and Pass' Healthcare Reform Strategy Acceptable?

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The "deem and pass" rule is akin to a poison pill - we'll consider this ugly thing passed - it's so ugly that the Senate will have to pass our amendments to the bill to fix it.
So, if the Senate doesn't pass the amendments to the bill, does the "deem and pass" stand - since it's language is in the failed bill? If it does, it will be interesting to have a landmark bill that supposedly passed, without really doing having a vote to do so.
Great way to run a country!

Stephen Shaffer of UT 12:14PM March 20, 2010

It is very easy for me, we cannot afford this. We are bankrupt now. We owe other countries but still people want more so called rights. Government in this country was designed not to have too much control over us. yet now we expect them to control everything. I agree that we need to consider the problems with companies out of control, but I believe it is up to the people not to support those companies. If we give our freedoms up for more so called rights, we will be very sorry in the end. Socialism demands the lose ofr freedom by people. And why hate the wealthy. don't we all want to be successful. These people give us jobs and in a free country you have the ability to grow financially. If we give all this control to government,
they will control who gets the wealth. Do you believe they are so concerned about the poor and not themselves. Don't be fooled. I prefer to be free and make my own way. The Gov. could set fair rules of business without taking over. It is obvious this administration is interested in social control.

Greg Lunz of MD 10:12PM March 19, 2010

Pelosi's an idiot! They are all idiots!
What the heck is going on with all of this? They are running
us into the ground.
Why cant they ask - got that? ASK the american people what they
want. There are so many people out of work with nothing looking
very well for that to end soon, companies are NOT hiring.
Those senators are all set for their lives, they all will get
great pensions, full GOOD health care for the rest of their lives and dont or wont have to worry about where their next
paycheck comes from. Let me trade positions with any one of them
and give them a feel of whats really going on. Unemployment,
nothing that I can see in the future thats going to end this
situation I and thousands upon thousands of other "average"
american's are in this boat and its getting harder & harder
to keep it afloat.
Does it matter what kind of health insurance plan they will
have for all of us when so many people are out of work and
cannot afford insurance at all?
I think they are spinning their wheels and should be concentrating on getting people back to work with real
wages, wages that we can actually live on.
If they put half the effort they have used on this health
reform bill to get people back to work we might actually be
seeing the economy improve for us regular joe's. They have
completely forgotten about us regular people. If we dont have
a job we cant afford to buy insurance can we?

L of ID 5:12PM March 18, 2010

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osbornemor of FL 12:50PM March 18, 2010

Most Americans are catholics,meaning"christians
like Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck, Republicans like MaCcain are very wealthy, 14-cars, 11-houses
people like this do not like shearing their wealth
with the less fortunate, people who can not afford Health Care insurance like JOE the plumber who
own his bussines, most just can't afford it.
" The word of GOD teach us a CLEAR LESSON"
(mark10:17-31)see your Bible.17-as Jesus started in His way again a man ran up, knelt before HIM
and asked HIM"good teacher what must I do to
receive eternal life? 18-19-you know the comm-
andments:do not commit adultery..respect your
father and your mother''20-"teacher" the man say
"ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these
commandments"21-Jesus looked straight at Him
with love and said, "YOU NEED ONLY ONE THING
GO AND SELL ALL YOU HAVE AND GUIVE THE
MONEY THO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE
RICHES IN HAVEN;22- WHEN THE MAN HEAR -
THIS, gloom spread over his face, and he went
away SAD because "HE WAS VERY RICH" Jesus -
looked around at HIS disciples and said to them
how hard it will be for rich people to enter the -
kindom of GOD 24- the disciples were shocked
at these words, but JESUS went on to say, "my -
children, how hard it is to enter the kindom of
GOD!"25-it is much harder for a rich person to enter the kindom of GOD than for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle.
Sadly Republicans are more Interested in the money they can receive from the insurance com-
panies, than the less fortunate here in america
can get health care. We Americans suport our
president Barack Hussein Obama. Some like FOX NEWS, Hannity, Becks programs, always saying
american people do not want this, or that, while
WE DO SUPORT BARACK OBAMA, that's why we
elected HIM as our PRESIDENT. He will be two
term's president and Michelle other two, they-
say barack is not American, well, perhaps it is
better to have a foreigner to lead this country
than any Republican. we salute BARACK.

Hector morales of NY 3:09AM March 18, 2010

I personally am against the bill. I feel that our beloved Country is in peril of becoming something we and future generations will not recognize.
I live in Illinois. I am used to the Chicago machine that has now become a National spectacle. The corruptness of government has got to stop. Individuals that represent were sent to represent us must be vigilant in fighting corrupt tactics and back-room deals. The trust of the American people is at stake.
Regardless of how you stand on the issue, the American citizens deserve complete consideration by those that are voted into positions that represent us. Additionally, they deserve accountability from those that represent us. A straight up and down vote is the only way for those individuals to be held accountable for their positions. Regardless of their position, if they are voting against their constituency they should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions or vote.
A respectable solution is the up and down vote; not the "deem and pass" or "Slaughter" options.
Sincerely,
Concern in the problem state of Illinois.

Cindy M. of IL 2:28AM March 18, 2010

I cannot believe in good conscience that any thinking American could consider voting yes on this bill.
Its not that 98% of us do not want some sort of reform, we do! But to pass this in this fashion is simply wrong. They are throughing out every single basis for the rule of law by such action.
It will be turned over or at the very least held up in the Supreme Court for years if not decades to come...
Its truly a sad day in What was America if this isn't negotiated, vetted and passed or failed in the Great American tradition of times pass for life changing events.
I intend to DEEM AND PASS that my taxes are paid in full upon this robbery of the system...

Tom in San Diego of CA 9:04PM March 17, 2010

I don't see what the problem is in voting for the changes before you vote the bill, actually I think it makes more sense. Why would you pass something you don't like, and then vote on changes; when instead you can vote on the changes and say in the process you have voted on the bill? If a majority agree on the changes, then why not just vote on the changes and the bill together?
Sounds like opposition groups are just misleading people once again by making a big deal out of nothing. I'm getting really sick of it from both sides,
The idea that they haven't used this on something so big before, is something of a red herring in my mind. Why is it that if something is "big", it is then important that they vote on what they don't like first and then change it later? Seems like with something "big", we'd prefer them to do it this way.
This is just low hanging partisan fruit, because it is easier to make it sound like the other side is doing something sneaky then focus on if what they are doing is good or not. Maybe some sour grapes too because political campaigns won't be able to out of context disingenuously claim candidates voted for certain things their constituents wouldn't like, even though in the same day they may of voted to change those aspects of the bill.

Brandon of CA 8:42PM March 17, 2010

I do think plans for catastrophic help need to be done and other options, but not all Americans should have to be effected. Most of the bad health today is due to people's bad choices - smoking drinking etc. Why should we all have to pay for that and suffer for those that have bad health due to those horrible habits. I do agree something needs to be done, but what should take more time. How about putting more money into the Adult Basic programs and uping the income levels there for people to have coverage on it. The waiting list in pa is 18-24 months to get on the adult basic, have each state have more state funds available for that.

shannon of PA 3:51PM March 17, 2010

Pelosi is out of control and they want to hid e the real votes or the lack of votes!
They dont have sufficient votes to passhelathcare reform.
The reason the lines are busy is because are the phones are off the hook for the last 2 weeks. No one answering phones because they are off the hook and the congreesman are literally hiding under the desk.
Finally come November there may be some serious voter fraud to and hope the Amercian citzen is prepared to deal with this becuase they know they can get away with ignoring the US Constitution.
We have a man right now is ignoring the constitution itself regarding being a natural born citizen. So he go away with this so figure they can get away with this very illegal HEALTH CARE BILL .
People need to wake up and see it is only going to get worse

Mick Jazz of WA 4:36AM March 17, 2010