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House passes health care bill; Stupak Amendment Outrageous
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Pelosi after passage
Today the House passed the democrat's health care bill. Is this even news? Of course it was going to pass the House, which is more liberal than the Senate. The big news is the narrow margin by which it was passed: 220-215. Barely. If what was thought to be a sure thing barely made it, then what are the chances of getting it in the more conservative Senate with the filibuster-ready Republicans and Joe Lieberman?
Nancy Pelosi said afterwards: “Without President Obama in the White House, this victory would not have been possible. He provided the vision and the momentum for us to get the job done for the American people.”
Really? President Obama did little more than nothing. The White House wouldn't support a plan nor pressure any opposition. It had been mentioned that the President "prefers" the public option, yet he took little steps to secure it. His neglected supporting a plan, instead making vague statements about there being many ways to go about health care reform. That may be true, but it certainly isn't helpful. When Harry Reid asked Obama to pressure opposing Senators just a little, he wouldn't. Obama said from the beginning that he was leaving it up to the Congress to produce a bill. That's what happened, and he doesn't deserve the credit.
Of course the Republicans hated it. All, but one voted against it. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) said: "This is perhaps the worst bill I have seen come to the floor in my 11 years in Congress". No surprise there.
In order to get the last bit of support for the bill, Pelosi had to allow a vote on the Stupak amendment, which passed, banning the public option from covering abortions. I knew this was bound to be in the bill, and I was actually surprised it took so long to get in there. However, one thing I did not know about the Stupak Amendment is that it prevents private insurance companies from receiving government subsidies if they cover abortions. That is outrageous.
It's a terrible thing. Though, still a concession I accept if that's what it takes to get a decent bill otherwise.
Fortunately, the Tea Party protest going on outside failed to influence enough representatives into believing they represented American interests.
