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The US House of Representatives passed historic healthcare reform legislation last night. There was vigorous debate on both sides (amazing, given some contended it was impossible for anyone to have read it in the time allotted, how could 435 legislators each have an opinion) and in the end a vote to add additional safeguards on government funds funding abortion was the difference-maker in a 220-215 vote.
A couple of observations:
1. All seven Alabama congressmen voted FOR the Stupak ammendment, which added the langauge regarding abortion funds.
2. All seven Alabama congressmen voted AGAINST the bill itself.
So, what do those against the bill in our fine state have to complain about? Was there MORE our representative could have done for you? The reality is, your voices were heard and you have little reason to complain. This is a legislative process, and only one step in it. The Senate still has to weigh in on this issue (as they have not yet done with the climate change legislation that the House passed months ago) and then a conference committee will get to work.
I was stunned by the level of vitriol I saw from both sides online last night. People on the right name-calling and threatening members of Congress, people on the left doing the same. While at the same time, folks on the right claiming that they’ll get people in Congress in 2010 who will reverse the bill. EXACTLY! That’s how the Democratic process works. If this is really such a terrible proposal, then certainly we will see representatives go down to defeat and the proposal can be revisited. This is by no means the end of anything.
I don’t understand the hatred that has been expressed over a House vote. We’re still a long way from a final bill, and even then, it’s not as if legislation can’t be passed to change or modify provisions as we go. Look back at the Patriot Act, for instance. So many people thought that act was the “end of freedom” (a phrase being used again regarding this bill), if freedom can be so easily erased we never had it to start.
I urge everyone to take the rhetoric down a notch and pay attention to what the Senate does, in hopes that we can arrive at a bill that will work to improve healthcare in this country, and ultimately reduce costs to everyone in the long-term. And where it fails, to make the necessary changes to make it work better, because that’s what America does.
Please offer your comments below.
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NEW TWAY Blog Post: Alabama and HR 3962 – Healthcare Reform http://bit.ly/3I6lHu #hcr #alpoliticsGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris NEW TWAY Blog Post: Alabama and HR 3962 – Healthcare Reform http://bit.ly/3I6lHu #hcr #alpoliticsGD Star Rating
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RT @TWAY_Kris: NEW TWAY Blog Post: Alabama and HR 3962 – Healthcare Reform http://bit.ly/3I6lHu #hcr #alpoliticsGD Star Rating
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Thoughtful take, Kris. Seems like everyone is more interested in setting fires than making progress. Civility greases the skids for effective legislation.
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The World Around You: Alabama and HR 3962 – Healthcare Reform: The US House of Representatives passed historic heal… http://bit.ly/xhwePGD Star Rating
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No doubt many “Progressives” are celebrating this vote, but their celebrations may be premature.I judge this vote to not be in the best interest of them, the Obama administration, and Democrats in general…..especially those in Congress.
This legislation is opposed, I believe, by a majority of American voters. If it is rammed down their throats with a later vote by the Senate and then both chambers of Congress and President Obama. those Americans will respond by voting against many members of both chambers of Congress who vote in favor of it, possibly to the extent of putting Republicans in control of Congress in the 2010 elections, and then by defeating Obama in 2012 and voting in a Republican as our next president. As you noted, that’s just the way things work in a Representative Republic.
Also, some provisions of any bill like this that is finally approved by both chambers will likely be challenged as being unconstitutional, and finally reach the US Supreme Court where one or more challenges may be upheld by SCOTUS and this whole episode will become a thing of the past.
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Don,
You’re looking awfully far into the future…we’ll all see how the future plays out. As for the present, this one vote in the House, we still have a long way to go to final legislation on healthcare. And an even longer time to go to the 2012 election. The president’s job approval is still above 50% in the latest Gallup poll and whatever the President’s approval rating has been, the approval for Republicans has been lower.
Alabama State Rep. (and soon to be State Senator) Cam Ward (R) wrote a great piece this week on what the 2010 elections hold. He emphasized that nothing about those elections is a foregone conclusion and that candidates in both parties have to understand that people want to know they’re being heard and that candidates intend to produce results.
Certainly Republicans will pick up seats in Congress, that almost always happens in the middle of a President’s first term, but I don’t think anyone can venture to predict much beyond that.
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As always a very thoughtful post. I have been surprised more than once recently when an issue has drawn out arguments of being un-American, socialist, or un-constitutional. By the very fact that we are able to discuss issues of great divide and allow them to move their way through an established process (whether that be executive, legislative, or judicial), speaks to the consistency with which our nation has maintained freedom throughout a changing history. This process that makes us American blends our voices even when those voices are shouting.
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The disquieting thing to me about this whole on-going debate was the contempt displayed by some on both sides for the electorate. When you believe that way, Caesar is around the corner.
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Then let me ’slpain it to you, Lucy.
I am done compromising with the left in any way. I intend to bar the door, light the fires in the middle of the night (metaphorically speaking, of course) and oppose, stymy, block, rail against and actively stir the people into action against what this freak of a president is trying to do to my country at every opportunity. That Bush was nearly just as bad is irrelevant; Bush is GONE, thankfully. His replacement is worse.
He carried the bank bailouts forward, he has intimidated Chrysler bondholders into not exercising their property rights, he has handed the American auto industry over to the unions, and he seeks to surrender much, if not all, of our sovereignty as a free nation in December. President Obama, now spelled President Oppressor, wants to take over an additional 1/6 of the American economy through a healthcare raid, intimidating the insurance companies into going along with threats much the same as he did Chrysler bondholders.
So, you will have to excuse me if I am more than a little p!$$ed at this big earred freak of a president who bemoaned the fact that the Warren court did not go far enough in wealth redistribution and the fools who support him and kneel at his image.
I plan to hope and help that every Representative who voted for this bill is replaced in 2010 that can be replaced.
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Well, Tim…it’s obvious from your site and the lack of any concrete facts in your statement that you are a Glenn Beck disciple, which means you can’t explain a thing to me.
When you’re done compromising, you’ve officially left the conversation, because like it or not, we live in a Democracy and the left (as well as the right) will ALWAYS have their say. So you can amp your rhetoric up to 11, but it means absolutely nothing, because, in the end, there is always going to have to be compromise. Ain’t Democracy a bitch?
By the way, do you believe that calling the President names elevates your argument in some way? I didn’t have respect for those who did it to Bush and I don’t have respect for people who do it now.
Come with some facts next time and we can have a real discussion.
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Kris,
a few things;
1) mercifully we live in a democratic republic rather than a democracy. A democracy is mob rule.
2)Why would you discount someone who listens to Glenn Beck. While I believe Mr.Beck can be a bit over the top, he does bring up valid questions and pertinentpoints. By leaving him and his views from the conversation you are advocating the stifling of debate and give lie to your belief in a democracy(which we are not) where dissenting voices need to be heard.
3) with the exception of the Soveriegnty claim, most of the other “facts” are for the most part true if incredibly general in nature.
4) Regrettable this country has elected President Obama who is further to the left than many anticipated. However, the insulting him or democrats does not further the debate and only cause individuals to harden their positions. So I agree with you in that regard. So Please everyone save the red meat for you appropriate party functions
“Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”
Winston Churchill
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Yes, we live in a democratic republic…I do have a political science degree. The point is the same, compromise is part and parcel of our governmental structure.
I want to debate issues and find solutions. Glenn Beck and his acolytes have no such interest, as they continually demonstrate, which is why I choose to disregard them. If someone who listens to Glenn Beck wants to bring policy solutions to the table, I’m happy to listen.
I don’t understand how you can believe that much of what Tim said is fact. Every major industrialized nation was forced to bailout their banks, America was not unique. Every major economic power attempted to stimulate the economy. You can disagree with the specifics, but the fact that our government acted (or continued the Bush actions) is not unique to our nation, nor does it make him any “further to the left” than people thought.
The intent of the actions taken were to save our captalist economy from meltdown, not to somehow “take over” that economy (which doesn’t even make any sense). Nor does the president want to take over 1/6 of the economy, that would be a single payer system, which is far from even what the House passed, much less what will ultimately become law.
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Kristopher, I don’t have a political science degree. Do you mean that for over 3/4 of a century I’ve been living under the delusion that I was living in a representative republic? If this is either a Republican Republic or a Democratic Republic I guess that may explain why we’re in the mess we are in now.
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Not sure how we went down this unproductive road, but yes we are a representative republic (because we elected representatives) AND a democratic republic (because we elect our head of state – or elect electors if you want to get really technical).
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Just to add some fuel for the fire on health care as right. In the old English Common Law, from which we derive our laws, indigent care (including health care) was a county level responsibility. This is a part of the Alabama Constitution (Article IV, Section 88) and there is the Alabama Healthcare Responsibility Act (sections 22-21-290 to 22-21-297) which spells out how much care (generally whatever medicaid does) counties have to provide.
there ha s been no seriuos enforcement of this provision and statue other than suits filed by UAB/USA a while back to get counties to cough up. The suits were dropped when the Legislature gave them more state money, IIRC.
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You’re absolutely right Walt…did a little research on that, very interesting.
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