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House Democrats looking at 'Slaughter Solution' to pass Obamacare without a vote on Senate bill UPDATED!

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
03/10/10 4:17 PM EST

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. (AP photo)

Would House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow House Democratic leaders try to cram the Senate version of Obamacare through the House without actually having a recorded vote on the bill?

Not only is the answer yes, they would, they have figured out a way to do it, according to National Journal's Congress Daily:

"House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter is prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill, the chairwoman said Tuesday.

"Slaughter is weighing preparing a rule that would consider the Senate bill passed once the House approves a corrections bill that would make changes to the Senate version.

"Slaughter has not taken the plan to Speaker Pelosi as Democrats await CBO scores on the corrections bill. 'Once the CBO gives us the score, we'll spring right on it,' she said."

Each bill that comes before the House for a vote on final passage must be given a rule that determines things like whether the minority would be able to offer amendments to it from the floor.

In the Slaughter Solution, the rule would declare that the House "deems" the Senate version of Obamacare to have been passed by the House. House members would still have to vote on whether to accept the rule, but they would then be able to say they only voted for a rule, not for the bill itself.

Would that rationale fly with the public? Is it logical? Of course not. But remember, these folks have persuaded themselves that a majority of the American people really want Obamacare. A blog post on House Minority Leader John Boehner's blog described the approach as a "twisted scheme."

How much fun will it be for Democrats representing congressional districts carried by John McCain in 2008 to be constantly reminded about the Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, the Slaughter Solution, the death panels, $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, individual mandates, etc.

UPDATE: Turner on Nancy's new rules

Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute offers another insight into the Democrats' desperate search for some way to pass a proposal that is clearly opposed by a majority of their constituents. 

-- Beltway Confidential



More from Mark Tapscott

  • National Journal tries new lipstick on old Democratic pig of an argument about Tea Party and GOP
  • Obama and Holder are the two biggest problems facing the U.S. intelligence community
  • State AGs are shocking the 10th Amendment back to life
  • Most Americans pick free market over government-run economy
  • Stop the press! New Guantanamo horrors exposed!!

Topics

Obamacare , President Barack Obama , Health Care Reform , Government-run Health Care , Congress , House of Representatives , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Slaughter Solution , Rep. Louise Slaughter


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