Health-reform debate pushes Congress further toward a parliamentary system
Tempers are apparently fraying a bit in the Senate chambers, with Democrats and Republicans growing increasingly angry and resentful at each other.
That’s probably a good thing. Maybe it will strip away some of that self-serving baloney about the collegial Senate and esteemed colleagues and the Senate being the world’s greatest deliberative body. Because if it was ever true, it’s not anymore and perhaps never will be again.
For better or worse, the Republicans have forced that change. The modern GOP has adopted a strictly parliamentary approach to important legislation, voting as a bloc and sternly enforcing party discipline to a degree unknown in recent American history. In the House, for example, Republicans voted 176-1 against health-insurance reform. In the Senate, the final vote will be 40-0 against reform. There can be no deliberation or give and take in such an approach; there’s no negotiation or compromise. It is pure power politics, and events of the last few weeks may have finally enlightened congressional Democrats about what that really means.
If so, that enlightenment has been a long time coming. Back in 1993, no Republican in either the House or Senate voted to support a tax-increase package that President Clinton said was needed to cut the deficit and restore fiscal confidence. Republican congressional leaders predicted economic calamity as a result of the tax hike on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. Newt Gingrich, to cite just one example, claimed the bill would lead to a recession and increase the deficit.
Instead, the economy took off and the federal budget was balanced a few years later.
Later, House Speaker Dennis Hastert tried to institutionalize that trend. He had a personal rule against allowing a bill to come to the floor unless it had majority support from within the GOP caucus. In other words, a bill that might pass easily thanks to a coalition of GOP and Democratic votes would not be given a chance to pass unless it first drew a majority of Republicans. The GOP caucus in effect became a Congress inside the Congress.
In the Senate, Republicans have forced the same change on their Democratic colleagues. By refusing to negotiate, the GOP in effect took itself out of play in the health-reform debate and forced the Democratic caucus to negotiate only with itself. They succeeded in drawing a stark line between the two parties on the issue, which some will no doubt count as a success. However, the final package is also more liberal than it would have been had conservatives been willing to compromise.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
416 comments Add your comment
Normal
December 21st, 2009
12:56 pm
The Republican pParty has become a cult. A cult of what, I’m not sure, but a cult nevertheless…
Finn McCool
December 21st, 2009
12:59 pm
I’d like to see the Senators mud wrestle each other for each pork item they want to submit.
“In this corner, weighing in at 210, from the great state of…”
Southern Comfort
December 21st, 2009
1:00 pm
Don’t forget the litmus test to get GOP financing…
Sounds like the government of the people, for the people, and by the people is a thing of the past.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:03 pm
Finn
I second that motion!
Kamchak
December 21st, 2009
1:04 pm
The modern GOP has adopted a strictly parliamentary approach to important legislation, voting as a bloc and sternly enforcing party discipline to a degree unknown in recent American history.
Walking in goose-step er.. lock-step fashion…
Jenifer
December 21st, 2009
1:05 pm
Single payer health insurance now!
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2009
1:06 pm
The problem is that any bill that increases government control over my life, for instance one that demands I pay for health insurance that covers abortion, acupuncture, and a whole bunch of other things I don’t want or need, is anathema to anyone who believes in true freedom. And betraying that by voting for this health care monstrosity is not compromise, it’s a betrayal of the principles this country was founded on- freedom, protection of private property, and trade without restriction. So the only people betraying what this country is about are the Democrats.
And shame on Ben Nelson for taking a bribe to change his vote. And shame on the Democrats for givign Nebraska an exemption from some of this nonsense in perpetuity. That’s a deeply cynical and evil way to run a country, playing games with our lives and incomes to get your way.
And this is all despite CBO estimates showing this bill will not save the country money, will not lower the deficit, will not increase access to afforable health care, will lead to increased premium payments, will lead to higher taxes, will lead to rationing of health care by politicians, and basically accomplishes NONE of the things Obama said he was going to do. And while it does little to help us, it vastly increases the power and control that the government has over our lives.
Outhouse Go-Kart
December 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
Why would the reps want anything to do with this sham of a bill, this OboboCare debacle.
Gale
December 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
Great image, Finn
Doggone/GA
December 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
What would there have been to compromise on? The R’s had no plan to advance that would have reduced the numbers of uninsured. THAT was the bottom-line end result we need. They got nothing for that.
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
The American People aren’t as easily fooded any more and come elections next year, I think it’s the Republican Party who are going to be surprised with the Democracts winning more seats in the Senate and House. The majorities will be so severe that the Republicans will have to join in or learn to knit. I don’t like this blocking of the political process one bit and I hate to think that I would be forced to vote democrat to protect that process.
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
If over half the people polled are staunchly against this bill (and they are), then I guess what the Democrats really favor is Government Forced Upon the People, Against the People’s Wishes, and Not By the People.
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:09 pm
Fooded? Fooled!
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2009
1:09 pm
I wonder where all you critics of obstructionism were when the shoe was on the other foot? Oh, I remember, you were telling your congressmen to obstruct any bills that the Republicans wanted to pass.
Taxpayer
December 21st, 2009
1:11 pm
Obama’s biggest mistake since taking office has been with his wasted time trying to appease the Party of No. He needs to treat them as the children that they are. Hopefully, he has learned his lesson given their continued childish behavior. Republicans are really a pathetic pack of losers.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
December 21st, 2009
1:12 pm
The modern GOP has adopted a strictly parliamentary approach to important legislation, voting as a bloc and sternly enforcing party discipline to a degree unknown in recent American history
Blah, blah, blah, it’s almost like the dummycrats aren’t voting straight party line.
What planet are you vacationing on, bookman?
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:13 pm
Jimmy62
Let’s make a deal.
You don’t pay for insurance and I won’t pay for war or corporate welfare.
Okee Dokee?
Oh and that stuff about the CBO…..best read this.
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/108xx/doc10868/12-19-Reid_Letter_Managers.pdf
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:14 pm
Republicans are really a pathetic pack of losers.
…but they are designing a cool new all black uniform with knee high boots to wear their American Flag pin on.
mm
December 21st, 2009
1:14 pm
The CBO score is in. The senate bill will reduce the deficit by $132 billion the first 10 years and by $1.3 trillion the next 10 years. The wingnuts are already claiming the score is a fraud.
Hey wingers, you do realize you are already required to carry auto insurance, so why are you crying foul now?
Morons.
Finn McCool
December 21st, 2009
1:14 pm
…any bill that increases government control over my life…and a whole bunch of other things I don’t want or need, is anathema to anyone who believes in true freedom.
That’s called being wealthy enough to own your own island where you can make whatever rules you want. Until the time you buy that island and move there, you live in a society with certain demands and expectations in order to be a part of it.
This is called life – in any country, society, or community. Learn to be a apart of it and take a little compromise or move somewhere else.
Doggone/GA
December 21st, 2009
1:15 pm
Mrs G – “You don’t pay for insurance and I won’t pay for war or corporate welfare”
You beat me to it!
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:16 pm
Whiner, you miss the point. The Democrats HAVE to vote party line because the Republicans won’t play. It is so stupid. This is why they will lose it all come November…
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:16 pm
Jimmy62-It’s the same game only the colors have changed.I just hope the ones that vote for this joke of a bill will get they’re collective fannies handed to them come re-election time.
Finn McCool
December 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
I remember the Republicans meeting behind closed doors, even turning off the lights at one point so the Democrats wouldn’t know they were convening. This was about 2002 or 2003.
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
MRS. G…Howdy! Have a good weekend?
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:19 pm
Health Insurance & auto Insurance? Hey Moron there is quite a bit of difference between the two!!!!
Redneck Convert--R and proud of it
December 21st, 2009
1:20 pm
Well, I swear. They found two bodies in the Amicolola River up in Dawson County. Been shot. The person that done it should of buried them, not toss them in water I might could need to drink. Far as I can tell, the guy that done it was Liscenced to Carry, so no problem there.
Anyhow, I’m glad the Republicans didn’t have nothing to do with this Health Care Bill. They should of passed what the Republicans wanted to do about Health Care: Nothing. Like the fellow said, it ain’t my job to pay for someone else’s health care. Just let the guy die and be done with it. This is America and Free Innerprize, not Russia and Communism. If a bunch of bums want to go without Health Care let them. We’ll be rid of them soon enough. We’ll still go to church on Sunday and pray to Jesus to help the sick. I reckon that’s the only way we can help them, now that the Rev. Oral Roberts up and died.
Have a good p.m. everybody. And try not to drink the water for a couple days.
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:20 pm
Hey but original name calling-not!!! typical
Finn McCool
December 21st, 2009
1:21 pm
Normal, correct. They wouldn’t have had to give everything + the kitchen sink to Nebraska if the Republicans were allowed to think for themselves and work on the bill.
Taxpayer
December 21st, 2009
1:24 pm
…but they are designing a cool new all black uniform with knee high boots to wear their American Flag pin on
And with their color-coordinating man-purses and red lipstick, they’re sure to be a hit.
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2009
1:26 pm
MM- No one uses auto insurance for an oil change, they use it for catastrophe. If medical insurance was used properly as insurance in the case of disaster, then we would have no fiscal problem with medical care in this country. But the left wants anything and everything covered, and they want the rich to pay for it all. So that makes any comparison to auto insurance completely irrelevant.
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:26 pm
Somebody pass the monitor cleaner…Taxpayer got me…
Joey
December 21st, 2009
1:27 pm
Jay:
The votes were 176-1 against the House Health Care Bill, and 40-0 against the Senate Health Care Bill. Not insurance reform. It may be your integrity that is frayed.
I agree though that it is past time to stop this pretending about “esteemed colleagues” and the “deliberating skills”. But once again your personal dishonesty allows you to denigrate Republicans for being responsible for changing an image that you first acknowledge probably never existed, and further acknowledge is past due for a change.
mm
December 21st, 2009
1:27 pm
Hef.
You prove my point. Wingnuts just don’t get it.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:28 pm
Normal
Great! Full of marvelous silliness and snickerdoodles.
How about you?
Jimmy62
December 21st, 2009
1:29 pm
Finn- The GOP thinks for itself plenty, and has made many, many suggestions about health care. But the left won’t accept any of them, because they have no interest in bipartisanship, just winning, as Ben Nelson’s sellout in return for a $100 million bribe demonstrates. Too bad you guys have to resort to bribing your own side to get your way. Also too bad that you have a super majority, and still can’t get anything done without bribery and voting in lock-step with one another.
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:30 pm
Taxpayer-U speaking Harry Reid before or after 1st sex change operation? This is no place for that kind of talk.
mm
December 21st, 2009
1:30 pm
Jimmy62,
Ditto.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:31 pm
“the left wants anything and everything covered, and they want the rich to pay for it all”……there’s your sign!
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:31 pm
MM-And you proved mind by not having a clue of what u speak,but then again you knew that right?
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:33 pm
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
vs:
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10705/hr3962amendmentBoehner.pdf
smackdown
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:33 pm
Mrs G,
Had family and Grandkids over all weekend. Big pots of Chili and and fresh from the oven cookies and brownies. Not everybody can make Christmas day so we had an open house all weekend. Lots of work, but double the fun.
Hef
December 21st, 2009
1:33 pm
Zilla & the rest of the sheep here-here’s your sign “Go F*CK Yourselves”
Peadawg
December 21st, 2009
1:35 pm
Jay, can release my previous comment? I don’t know why it’s waiting moderation….???
@@
December 21st, 2009
1:36 pm
Awwwww, poor babies. Why shouldn’t they share in the misery? Working hard is something to which they’re not accustomed.
Being unemployed? Now that’s stress! Hopefully some of them will find out soon enough (2010) what THAT’S like.
Priorities….the dem’s are out of order.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:36 pm
Hef
No thanks, I like it the old fashioned way.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:37 pm
Oh and Hef
I suspect you could give us all the hand signals for that procedure
from personal experience.
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:37 pm
Oh Hef, how original, how apropos, how intellegent…
Mrs. Godzilla
December 21st, 2009
1:38 pm
Clean up on aisle Hef
Normal
December 21st, 2009
1:39 pm
Mrs G,
I’m pretty sure hef knows where to look anyway…