So much talk today about “deem and pass!” All sorts of House members made the cable rounds to weigh in on news that Democrats might use a procedural tactic to vote on the Senate health care bill and the reconciliation fix in one fell swoop.
According to Democrats, this is a rather routine parliamentary procedure. Republicans claim it’s something a little shadier.
The plan, as Brian Beutler explained it earlier:
Instead of requiring Democrats to take separate votes on the Senate health care bill and the reconciliation fix, a self-executing rule would allow the House to do the whole thing in a single vote. The rule would be written in such a way as to “deem” the Senate bill passed, if the House votes to pass the reconciliation bill. And voila. Health care reform.
Here’s a round-up of what House members have been saying about it:
- Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) released a statement calling for an up-or-down vote, and labeling the Democrats’ strategy a “scheme” and “the ultimate in Washington power grabs.”
Boehner also called it a “controversial trick” on the House floor, and said “there’s no way you can hide from this vote.”
Watch:
- Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) also appeared on Fox News today, and said that though he supports the bill, “people will make their choices, and that’s the way democracy ought to function. There does need to be an up-or-down vote on this bill.”
- Rep. Parker Griffith (
DR-AL) went on Fox News and called the move “deception on steroids,” and said the the Democrats are “absolutely fearful they will not be able to pass this health care bill.” He added: “It’s deception. It’s deceit. It’s the avoidance of the democratic process.” - House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) said the proposed procedure “is one of the ways that’s being discussed. And that’s a way been used at least a hundred times since I’ve been in Congress. And I’ve only been here 18 years. So this is nothing unusual.”
When the Fox News host responded that the tactic seemed like political “sleight of hand,” Clyburn responded: “The fact of the matter is, just because you label it that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have it before.” He added: “There’s no trickery here at all. It’s just that you do this process is order to facilitate the effort.”
Watch: - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) defended House Dems on MSNBC, calling the tactic a “”routine procedure” used to get legislation passed.
- Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) said on Fox News earlier that “this deeming canard is all about” health care reform passing the House “without anybody voting for it.” He continued: “The truth is that Nancy Pelosi doesn’t have the votes.”
- House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) said on the House floor:
There’s been a year and a half nearly of debate over this and still more questions than answers. That’s why we are hearing reports that the majority will try and ram this through without a direct vote on the Senate bill, Madam Speaker. We should take an up-or-down vote on the Senate bill.
Watch:
- Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) also weighed in on ABC News’ Top Line, declaring that it “will not be upheld in a court because it’s patently unconstitutional.”
- Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) on the House floor this morning: “That’s never happened in the history of this country, and, again, it undermines the rule of law and the American people will not stand for it.”
- Senate Bonus! Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) condemned the plan: “I believe that any plan to approve major reform without actually voting for it simply won’t fly outside the beltway.”
“The House should vote on the Senate health bill under normal rules,” she said.
