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House Passes Three Week Spending Bill
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The Spectacle Blog
Jonathan Cohn reports that Democrats are “almost certain” to skip a formal conference committee to merge the House and Senate health care bills and informally negotiate which each other, a strategy that would expedite final passage.
Cohn favors the strategy of shutting off the ability of Republicans to delay health care legislation further:
“I think the Republicans have made our decision for us,” the Senate staffer says. “It’s time for a little ping-pong.”
“Ping pong” is a reference to one way the House and Senate could proceed. With ping-ponging, the chambers send legislation back and forth to one another until they finally have an agreed-upon version of the bill. But even ping-ponging can take different forms and some people use the term generically to refer to any informal negotiations.
Whatever form the final discussions take place, a decision to bypass conference would undoubtedly expedite the debate, clearing the way for final passage (if not signing) by the end of January. And, as long as both chambers still get their say, that’s a good thing.
Yes, Republicans are sure to complain that they’re being excluded from deliberations. But given their repeated efforts to block not just reform but even mere votes on reform, it’s not clear why Democrats are obligated to include them in discussions anymore.
While this may very well be the current line of thinking among Democrats, I’m not convinced this is how things will play out. It’s important to keep in mind that it won’t just be Republicans who are clamoring for conference committee, but a lot of liberals, too. Many on the left begrudgingly expressed support for passing the Senate bill in the hopes that they could make one last stand during conference talks, and I think Democrats may have to give them that oppourtunity, if nothing else but for show.
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Olliander | 1.4.10 @ 10:19AM
Democrats seem intent on following a disastrous bill off a cliff to start the new year. At this point, are Republicans all but helpless to stop it?
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 10:21AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Confe links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 11:28AM
Suprise! Democrats Not Going To Conference On Health Care Bill | Right Wing News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.4.10 @ 11:39AM
OLLiander,
Republicans per-se may not be able to stop it, but we Americans can stop it.
We simply gird up our loins and refuse to comply.
I shall not obey being governed this way.
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 12:21PM
Hot Air » Blog Archive » TNR: No conference committee for ObamaCare links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 12:22PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … Word words links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | health links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Jim Hlavac | 1.4.10 @ 2:06PM
One nice thing about the Democrats moving in this way is that the more they do this sort of stuff the bigger and wider the widespread big disapproval of it all gets by a vast majority of people. Stronger and deeper is the opposition every day. And the Republicans, who for a long time were just Dem-lite will now not be tarnished with the crud. When 65 to 80 percent (whatever the final number) come to despise the legislation and those who made it -- well, then that should make for some interesting electoral politics. Moral clarity of the great divide is heartwarming for We the People and it's going to be heartrending for the Leftists in our midst.
Ask the Iranians (If they are busy, please wait until they come back from the street protests) about disapproval politics.
Though, it too reminds me of the poor remnants of the Confederate Army set before Atlanta (the Democrats, after all, historically) just before Sherman swept it all away -- and well before he said, very Tea Party-esque -- won't run, won't serve. Sort of like Palin is playing today. Sweet.
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 2:11PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tish | 1.4.10 @ 2:26PM
The Amish are already preparing to file a complaint asking for an exclusion on religious grounds. 13 states' Attorneys are considering a suit on constitutional grounds. It doesn't look good, but if American citizens keep up the pressure, the fight is a long way from over.
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 2:33PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … American Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Wellescent Health Blog | 1.4.10 @ 3:04PM
Given the potential loss of a senate seat by the Democrats because of the run about to start for Kennedy's seat, they are going move the bill as fast as possible so they don't have to rejig the bill. This is a loss that would be crushing and would cause a number of disastrous restarts for the party.
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 3:05PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Yosemeti Sam| 1.4.10 @ 11:17PM
" ... “I think the Republicans have made our decision for us," the Senate staffer says. "It’s time for a little ping-pong.”...."
And when 2010 elections come along - it'll be time
for a little bat-whack, playfully administered upon democrat candidates.
To ping pong or not to ping pong?
Why bother.
These democrats are already performing for the
electorate Gong show.
BTW, the Chicoms are a one-party state and
they're great at ping pong games.
Pingback| 1.4.10 @ 11:59PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TNR: Dems to Skip Conference … « Just Health links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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martin j smith| 1.5.10 @ 8:05AM
There is something Republicans can do--its not about dealing with what Democrats do.
The Democrats will ( politically speaking ) be doing Republicans a realy big favor. By doing things behind closed doors, by denying right of debate the Democrat Party will show once again to the voter who they are. This action should be placed in advertisements. These should say something like this: If this bill is so good for the American People, why are the Democrats hiding ?
Oh yes, democratic processes are complicated but at lease we find out what is in the legislation. The Democrat Party is the Party of Tyrants. They want to rule against your will. They will be messing with your health, your bodies and your mind. In November VOTE NO! This is our plan.... And have one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pingback| 1.5.10 @ 11:23AM
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