By a 227-196 vote, the House affirmed Democrats' plans to move health care legislation under rules that block Republicans in the Senate from being able to slow progress of the legislation -- or even stop it, through a filibuster.
The vote came as senior House and Senate Democrats negotiated the issue in private talks on the 2010 budget. Republicans are passionately against the idea of putting health care on a "fast track," saying it is too important and too complicated to be rushed through Congress under rules permitting just 20 hours of Senate debate.
What is the rush to change healthcare in this country dramatically? They rushed the porkulus and TARP through with little debate. The porkulus bill was 1434 pages. We all know how well that worked out.
As a practical matter, passing health care measures under fast-track procedures would give Democrats far more control over the details of the legislation. It would reduce the influence of not only Republicans but also conservative Senate Democrats.
The ability to "fast track" legislation was meant for bills that were imperative to the immediate survival of our country. It wasn't for a extremely complex bill that would dramatically change the country.
They need to allow as much debate as possible. If they do not, they will not have all the facts and will likely pass a severely flawed bill.
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