HEALTH CARE? IT'S PERSONAL NOW!

You have to hand it to Democrats, they're a hard headed bunch. They run smack into a wall, back up and head right into it again believing that sooner or later the wall will fall. So it is with health care and even though the results of the Massachusetts senate race have made that wall stronger, here they come, plowing head first into the wall of resistance put up by the American people. Reconciliation is the term now floating through the halls of Congress. It's a process that quickly moves legislation into law and is explained in the following:

Crash course on Reconciliation from keithhennessey.com

Reconciliation is a fast-track legislative process that allows a bill to pass the Senate in a limited time period, and with the support of only 51 Senators. A “normal” Senate bill can be slowed down by a single Senator, and blocked by 41 Senators. This is not true for a reconciliation bill.


The downside is that reconciliation “protections” apply only to a very narrow set of policy matters, all relating to changes in taxes, spending, or debt.


In the particular case of health care reform, some Senate Democrats are attracted to the reconciliation process because it would allow them to pass a bill even if there is unified Republican opposition, and even if as many as 9 Senate Democrats oppose the bill. It is, however, nowhere nearly as easy as these advocates might hope. They may be able to enact some parts of health care reform but not others.

Instead of going back and trying to work with the Republicans to come up with a sensible plan that holds down costs and creates affordable care to Americans, they will try to salvage something from the two versions produced in the House and Senate. Possibly push through individual sections and ideas from each bill. As with everything they do, this to is flawed and will result in more harm than good for the country.

Unable to admit to defeat and unwilling to hear the voices of discontent, they assume their message was misunderstood. All that is needed is a little re-branding and repackaging to fix the problem. Of course when you won't admit to what the problem really is, the fixing part can get complicated.

This really has become a personal issue with them. If they go back to the drawing board then that means they were defeated and for all purposes they failed. Failure with a majority in Congress and a Democrat sitting in the Oval Office is not to be swallowed nor is it an option. However, by passing something...anything, then they at least can claim a victory of sorts. Like I said, it's personal now and to hell with what the country may want. It's all about saving face. The reality is government at its worst and how misguided ideals are forced into law and rammed down the throats of the American public. Unable to break through the wall of public resistance, they look for a way around it. As for the American public? Sorry, this is personal.

Edisto Joe

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