Despite nationwide opposition, Harry Reid, Senate Majority leader, announced last week that democrats will pass a health care bill in the next 60 days through a procedure called reconciliation. Reconciliation, a measure first introduced in 1974 is used to stop debate and prevent amendments when a majority is held in a congressional body. Used several times in the past, it is very controversial, and viewed by many as a shady back-room deal that essentially leaves a whole political party out of the discussion.
The latest Rasmussen polls tell us that 52% of Americans are opposed to a national health care plan, while only 44% approve. Other polls have shown the disapproval rate as high as 58%, yet Nancy Pelosi and the Obama Administration are intent on passing a bill that most Americans don’t want. Pelosi has been urging democrats to pass the bill, ignoring the concerns of their constituents, and threatening their re-election.
Why democrats are so eager to pass this bill so quickly, I do not know. 61% of voters believe Congress should scrap the proposed plan, and start over, and 63% want Congress to pass smaller bills that address individual problems, instead of a massive overhaul of the health care system. The people have many concerns. There is the budget to think of, and the incredible national deficit, and a huge concern to many is the inclusion of abortion at the tax payer’s expense. Do these issues give Congressional Democrats pause? They don’t seem to.
The issue of abortion being included in the bill is not just an effort by right-wingers to stall or thwart the proposed plan. Nancy Pelosi has stated firmly that the plan does not support abortions with taxpayer money, but she isn’t being completely honest. There are many loopholes in the wording that would, indeed, allow for women to receive abortions paid for by taxes. For instance, in the current version of the bill, there is something called the Mikulski Amendement where abortion can be defined as “preventative care” for women. Prevention of what? Morning sickness and swelling ankles? This is just one example of ways democrats will be able to push through their agenda with objectors (Republicans) having no voice thanks to the reconciliation process.
In the past there has also been provisions for health care providers in bills called, “full conscience protection.” Essentially, this is the promise that although doctors, nurses, etc., help process health care procedures paid for by government programs, they cannot be forced or accused of discrimination for denying to perform procedures they disagree with morally. This means that a medical professional cannot be asked to perform an abortion if they object to it ethically. They also cannot be penalized in any way for not performing a procedure that the government is providing. The current health care bill allows no such provision. It is not clear what would happen to a doctor or nurse that would refuse to perform an abortion, but this bill does not protect their right of refusal as past bills have.
While abortion is such a hot-button issue in our country, I would think democrats would be more inclined to compromise in order to get more people on board with the health care overhaul. President Obama arranged a health care “summit” which would supposedly bring together bipartisan ideas, and mesh them into the perfect health care reform bill. Republicans were promised a chance to voice concerns about the bill, but meanwhile, democrats were furiously working in the background on their own agenda, as if the outcome of the summit didn’t matter a lick. They all know this matter will be decided by democrats and democrats alone. While President Obama talks a good talk about bipartisanship, and being open about proceedings, the end result was always going to be the reconciliation process where democrats go in a back room and leave Republicans powerless. Republicans are painted by Pelosi and her ilk as difficult to deal with, and dems pretend that this is not how they wanted to do things, and that they are just trying to do what is right for the American people.
The truth is that Republicans and Independents are simply voicing the concerns of millions of Americans who are scared about the price tag of such a huge overhaul of our system. They are worried about the quality of care they will be receiving, and the effect such a huge program would have on our country in a tough economic climate. The idea that reconciliation can even be used in this instance is a mystery to me. Democrats tried to implement it in 1994 for Clinton’s health care plan, and a rule, the Byrd Rule, halted the process because it states that reconciliation cannot be used when the national deficit will be increased for more than 10 years after the measure is used. Obama and Pelosi insist that this plan will actually lower our deficit. Any grade schooler could tell you that spending $1 Trillion does not add up to helping our debt problem. Pillaging Medicare and other programs is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul, and does not help our overall money mess.
Reconciliation is a nasty process, and while it has been used by both parties at various times, I believe it is so anti-American. We vote to elect politicians to go to Washington and represent us and our beliefs. Then, using an obscure method of procedure, our “guys” are completely side-lined, and we have no voice at all.
Nancy Pelosi and others insist this is what is best for the American public, and I think she truly believes it. I don’t doubt that her intentions are good. It is sad that there are so many Americans that are uninsured, and have gone bankrupt to make good on their medical bills. That being said, her condescension cannot be ignored. The entire attitude in Washington democrats seems to be that they know what’s best for us, even though we can’t see it. No matter how we protest or argue, or assemble, we are portrayed as a bunch of nut cases that don’t know what’s best for themselves. Tea parties are openly regarded as a bunch of wackos congregating, and anyone who disagrees with the health care plan is looked upon as someone with sinister, greedy, right-wing intent.
And they don’t stop there. Not only does Nancy Pelosi assume she knows what’s best for me, she is intent forcing her agenda at the same time. According to her, what is best is free abortions for all American women. Somehow we have gone from a focus on suffering citizens with pre-existing conditions to a platform for young women to have easier access to government funded abortions. In a plan where every citizen is covered, it will be easier than ever for young girls to receive abortions without parental notification. Nevermind the fact that, once again, the majority of people in our country think abortion is wrong. So not only does the Obama Administration seek to implement a plan most do not agree with, they also want Americans who despise abortion to pay for it out of their paycheck each month.
Once upon a time, we pretended that the people we voted for and elected represented us in Washington. This was not so long ago. We could voice our concerns to them, and supposedly they considered our opinions when voting on issues. However, with the majority of Americans saying, “no,” to the health care overhaul, our voice is falling on deaf ears. When President Lincoln gave his address at Gettysburg, he spoke words that Americans would hold dear for centuries to come. His ideal of a government, “of the people, by the people, for the people,” is an integral principle of our country. But the question remains: A government for the people, according to who? The people have spoken, and the Nancy Pelosis of this country have ignored their voice.
What do you think? Leave a comment below!
