| Jamie Dupree |
Health Bill Rumblings
"The Senate health care bill is not worthy of the historic vote that the House took a month ago," wrote Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Chair of the House Rules Committee.
Slaughter didn't just demand major changes in the Senate bill, as she argued for the public option and more - she said the Senate needs to hit the reset button.
"It's time that we draw the line on this weak bill and ask the Senate to go back to the drawing board. The American people deserve at least that."
Slaughter isn't just anyone. As the head of the Rules Committee, she serves in that post as a top lieutenant of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Meanwhile, two more liberal lawmakers also issued a statement demanding a public option, which does not have the votes to get through the U.S. Senate.
"If the bill requires people to buy health insurance, there must be a public option to bring down costs," wrote Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).
On the other side of the Capitol, the markers are down as well, mainly from Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Ben Nelson (R-NE).
Lieberman made clear this week that if there is a public option, he will filibuster a final health care bill.
"That would be a very sad ending," said Lieberman in a Senate floor speech.
Nelson has also made clear he wants abortion funding restrictions in the bill, and that without those, he reserves the right to filibuster.
So where is the middle ground?
That's the balancing act that Democratic leaders will have to deal with in coming weeks, and after so much attention on all the wheeling and dealing in the Senate, there will be lots of people watching to see if the sweetheart deals continue in the New Year.
What others are saying
- Congressional Reform ActCongressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressional representative collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
8. All contracts with past and present congressional representatives are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with congressional representatives, congressional representatives made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work. - Coming weeks for health care reformIt will be interesting when Congress returns to begin House-Senate negotiations if there will be infighting between the House and Senate. The liberals in the house are not too pleased with the Senate bill and want their Public Option. If they don't get it I feel like this bill may yet implode because of infighting within the Democratic Party. This could become fun to watch in the coming new year all eyes are on DC!
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