Even after the voters of Massachusetts sent a clear signal to the Dems that Obamacare should be euthanized, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have been plotting to save “reform.” Their plan is explained by Dick Morris:
First, the House will pass the Senate’s Obamacare bill that passed the Senate in December.
But what about all those objections from lefty House members who don’t like the Senate bill?
They will make “fixes” to the Senate bill after it becomes law with Obama’s John Hancock.
But how can the Democrats pass any of these “fixes” without their supermajority?
These modifications fall under “reconciliation” and don’t require 60 Senate votes.
Can Reid and Pelosi be this crazy? Yep. In fact, they are being encouraged by Lefty policy wonks to do just what Morris describes. But the good news is that at least two Dem Senators have balked:
Two centrist Democrats who are up for re-election this year, Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Evan Bayh of Indiana, said they would resist efforts to muscle through a health care bill using a parliamentary tactic called ‘budget reconciliation.’
Bayh puts it as follows:
It would destroy the opportunity, if there is one, for any bipartisan cooperation the rest of this year on anything else.
And Lincoln says:
I am opposed to and will fight against any attempts to push through changes to the Senate health insurance reform legislation by using budget reconciliation tactics.
Pelosi has a safe seat and Reid figures he’s toast anyway, so they’re willing to ignore the voters. But Lincoln and Bayh represent states whose voters won’t forgive such skulduggery.
Hopefully, their fear of angry voters will kill the Obamacare monstrosity once and for all.
[ht WeStandFirm]
UPDATE:
And, if there is anyone out there who still doubts that Pelosi and Reid are crazy enough to defy the will of the voters, here are the latest ravings of Madam Speaker (via Hot Air):
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday floated the idea of a two-track plan for health care reform — with Congress pursuing easier-to-pass incremental changes now and comprehensive reform later.
The “two-track plan” is the one discussed above. At this point, I guess, you have to wonder if Pelosi is just going through the motions. Maybe she knows it’s dead but doesn’t want to look as if she’s given up.
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