The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Ryan: Dems Ramming "Shell" HC Bill Through Committee Monday

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Ryan: Dems Ramming "Shell" HC Bill Through Committee Monday

By Philip Klein on 3.11.10 @ 4:43PM

Rep. Paul Ryan says that Democrats are ready to ram a "shell" health care bill through the Budget Committee, on which he serves as ranking Republican member, to use as a vehicle to impose national health care.

In a phone interview with TAS Thursday afternoon, Ryan said that he expects Democrats to begin the complex process on Monday, under which they would have the Budget Committee approve a phantom bill by midnight, which they will then send over to the Rules Committee. At that point, the Rules Committee will strip out all of the language in the phantom bill, and insert the changes to the Senate bill that Democrats have negotiated.

"They don't have the votes right now, but they're creating the vehicle so that they can airdrop in whatever changes they want," Ryan said.

He said that Republicans are outnumbered 2-to-1 on his committee and don't have the votes to stop the bill there. Democrats will also be able to prevent Republicans from offering any amendments, but GOP members will be able to offer "motions to instruct" the Rules Committee, that Ryan said will be used highlight problems with the "unprecedented" step that Democrats are taking.

He said he expected Democrats to dust off last year's health care bills from the Education and Labor and Ways and Means Committees, to use as the vehicle for reconciliation changes.

Ryan said that the Senate parliamentarian's ruling that President Obama must sign a health care bill into law before the Senate can change it through reconciliation largely renders moot the attempt by Rep. Louise Slaughter to shield members from a direct vote on the Senate health care bill. He said the idea would also violate Obama's call for an up-or-down vote. "That's not an up-or-down vote, that's sweeping it under the rug and into law," Ryan said.

He also warned against focusing too much on the reconciliation process in the Senate. "Reconciliation is a distraction," he said. "Once the House passes the Senate bill we have the massive new entitlement."

View all comments (30) | Leave a comment

Shaun McDonnell| 3.11.10 @ 4:52PM

Why doesn't Obama just call a press conference where he declares that his HCR bill is law because he 'said so'?

Unbelievable.

JP| 3.11.10 @ 5:02PM

I'm a little confused. The House must vote up or down on the Senate Version first. Then the President must sign that into law. The House can dust up all versions of ObamaCare they want; but, nothing can proceed until they vote on the Senate Version, followed by the President's signature.

Even then, the Senate could easily just say that they are no longer interested in reconcilliation. I don't think the President would mind one bit if after his signing ceremony the entire affair just falls away. Once the House passed the Senate Version, and once the President signs it into law, it's over.

So, I don't know what Pelosi is doing. Her caucus has to know how this thing will end. If she delivers and passes the Senate Version, her House Dems are history. There is nothing, repeat nothing that would compel Reid or any Senator to keep this farce going after it becomes law. Again, the House MUST APPROVE THE SENATE VERSION AS IT STANDS NOW. Otherwise, the game is over.

Warrior| 3.11.10 @ 5:15PM

Don't be too surprised if one of the changes is public option/single payer. Everyone is focused on abortion and the Byrd rules. All the while, this has provided cover for our President to write the changes in a very closed room with a very tight circle of comrades. Remember, they believe the majority of Americans want a public option and what better way to deliver it to them.

Jeff Perren| 3.11.10 @ 5:18PM

I've been arguing for months now that the Democrats are prepared to do anything - anything they can get away with - to pass this monstrosity, regardless of what happens in November. Hardly an original thought on my part, I openly admit.

This I think is: I've also been saying that the only way to stop it is a multi-million person march on Washington D.C. that lasts for several weeks. That's the only thing the media can't ignore. Otherwise, the overwhelming majority of voters who pay little attention to the day-to-day details, will never know what happened until it's too late.
Join the Tea Party Express to make that a reality.

Angela| 3.11.10 @ 6:02PM

I agree with JP with a slight difference - Im very confused. You send it to committee but a committee can't make it the law of the land - right? It still has to go to a vote? And what is a Motion to Instruct - in trying to find out more info - I could only see that it is basically an objection raised by the minority party that is meaningless.
I'm just waiting on Obama to declare himself King and single handedly enact the damn thing.

MarkJ| 3.11.10 @ 6:16PM

Well, we know what often happens to kings, emperors, and strongmen who don't listen to their people.

Just ask Louis XVI, Wilhelm II, Nicholas II, and Benito Mussolini

HoundOfDoom| 3.11.10 @ 7:16PM

Your mouth to God's ears, Mark.

John3| 3.11.10 @ 7:26PM

Remember, God is not a passive observer. So, God knows--even before we tell Him! Does the President know this?

GramaVegas| 3.11.10 @ 7:26PM

Yes. Even if O does get his way, as far as I'm concerned it is just the beginning. There is a price that all dishonest, underhanded, greedy leaders pay ultimately. What did the Queen of Hearts say? I believe it was "off with their heads!"

Conservative Bob| 3.11.10 @ 7:57PM

Maybe we can borrow and old "National Razor" from the french?

Angela| 3.11.10 @ 7:11PM

MarkJ,
I don't wish the same demise for our dear dictator, I mean President. I'm just waiting for the Impeachment.

There are grounds for it everywhere. If this economy, the lies, the bribes, the forgiveness of ACORN and Islamic Terrorists, his Communist Czars and agenda, and on and on keeps up...we will see it happen.
And what a party I will throw to watch the hearings!
You know, you just can't make this stuff up.
Maybe by that time we can hire Michael Moore to write the movie!

Bunkerville| 3.11.10 @ 9:04PM

The Foundry posted this possibilities and was planned back in September-outlines how it goes down.
http://bunkerville.wordpress.c.....ee-monday/

Yosemeti Sam| 3.11.10 @ 10:46PM

A November scythe awaits the Democrat Party.

Missy| 3.11.10 @ 11:07PM

We can't let this liberal monstrosity pass.

KILL THE BILL!!

fight the smears eh| 3.12.10 @ 1:49AM

this so called constitutional scholar must have been a lousy student, what a sham of a fool where no time to read the junk and where it wont come into play for 4 years. what a sick fool we elected (to ruin our country)

VinceP1974| 3.12.10 @ 3:28AM

This method is how Congress passed TARP.

If you recall, the first TARP bill was defeated in the House by Conservative GOP Representatives.

The next thing that happened was that suddenly the Senate had a TARP bill of their own. What the bill was was a medical related bill from Spring 08 that had already passed the House.

The Senate Dems switched out all the language and then passed that, sent it to the House, and they passed that with no possibility for amendments.

And everyone thinks that TARP is a Republican Product. The GOP is so dumb it allows that perception to linger out there.

Ruler4You| 3.12.10 @ 4:33AM

This graphically illustrates the criminal intent of politicians. This isn't the 'America' you think it is... unless you think it's a socialist mindset oligarchy.

martin j smith| 3.12.10 @ 7:47AM

Lets say hypothetically the Dems do as PK predicts ( also PR ). What I want to know is what will the Repubs do ? Now having asked the question let me suggest that it would not be too smart--in spite of anger--to reveal your cards. So I do not expect that to happen until the s hits the f. Let me as a non government academic or student of same
possibile avenues:
Court actions --not necessarily only Repubs, but Companies,private citiuzens and other avenues.
State actions: I have heard various states may refuse to accept this plan
Pure political activity towards the 2010 elections
and I have heard, not sure of details a stopping of actions congress. A slowdown if you will-or if you wont.

Any other have ideas that they think about--and I do not want to hear about any violent ideas real or imagined please.

Tim| 3.12.10 @ 11:37AM

RAMMING SPEED!

Todd| 3.12.10 @ 1:24PM

The Democratic Party will be remembered in 20 years in the same light as the Whig and Bull Moose parties: EXTINCT!! These fools will follow Obama, Pelosi and Reid over the cliff to their political demise, all for some Socialistic, utopian view of an "entitlement" to healthcare. Young people that I've talked to have come to realize that the Democrats have become a "nanny state" type of authoritarian government. Young people in America NEED to throw out the LIBERTY-ROBBING, HIGH-TAXING, MORALLY BANKRUPT Democrats in 2010 or 2012!! (your freedom DEPENDS on it........)

needfreshair| 3.12.10 @ 2:43PM

I pray to God that those who have power(i.e. Supreme Court, States, etc.) will rise up and declare that this is all utterly and totally unConstitutional and an attempt to execute tyranny over the people of the U.S.! And from there --- impeach obama and arrests him and all who follow him, for treason.

Mark my words -- obama is just a modern-day Hitler in disguise. And we all know what happened to those who opposed that monster.

Jericho| 3.12.10 @ 4:19PM

I'm thinking that the Brits were never this oppressive back in the 1770's.

John Manuola| 3.15.10 @ 1:05AM

I'm with Jericho...Britain was NEVER this bad. This is not just taxation without representation...it is far worse. I think we have to consider the behavior of many of these politicians to be malfeasance. That is cause for recall and/or imprisonment.

Colony14Author| 3.15.10 @ 3:11PM

If the Democrats use the "Slaughter rule" or in some other manner simply ignore the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law will have ended and the United States of America will have effectively been disbanded. If the federal government ignores the Constitution, then there technically no longer is a federal government.

We will then have 50 sovereign states... and each of them should immediately declare that they are republics.

Frankly, I hope it happens. I'll take the Republics of Texas, Utah, Wyoming, or Alaska over Washington, Dc.C. any day.

Read The Obama Timeline at www.colony14.net and understand how we got into this mess with the thug-in-chief.

needfreshair| 3.15.10 @ 5:39PM

Colony14: If what you say could possibly be correct, how do we, the people go about effectively pressing our state representatives to do the "right" thing? So far, I don't see our efforts (i.e. calling and telling them our concerns) working too well.

Henry Massingale| 3.22.10 @ 8:38AM

As predicted , the first stages of the Health Care Bill was passed. Why, you ask ? It is because people wish to be seen for their in put of a view and not unite. What is lost is respect with in a concept of { Freedom Of Choice } to be a part of this system or not, with in this Health Care Force Pay Matrix.
What is offered by FASC Concepts is the Freedom Of Choice, because we feel it is unconstitutional to force pay into the failures of Health Care Insurance Companies and then Tax that money. As you can see our elected officials are paying little attention to the public. As I reach out to my computer and I knock , knock, knock on the screen, and I say is there any body out there?
This Health Care issue keeps taking turns and twist that bewilder the mind in thoughts. This $100 trillion dollar system ,as it would seem, I am counting up to $ 8 trillion 682 billion Dollars so far. On guy emailed me and he is up to $27 Trillion dollars.
You see when Harry Reid added a extra ....almost, $2 Trillion dollars in a tax forum, this through my numbers off with the 1 to 3 year spread of taxes.
Lets show you this way seeing how I run out of fingers to count on and I do not feel like taking my shoes off.....
to get a $4 Trillion dollar tax spread, it is based at a 0.25% up to 4 years.
To be able to see the amount taxed in one year as a whole at 50% is around $8.2 Trillion to $8.8 Trillion, please remember according to Government Officials this is to be a spread tax, 3 to 10 years.. There is over 10 thousand companies I have not even got to yet. So lets take this $ 8 trillion 682 billion Dollars , reach into your mind and say ,1 to 3 to 10 years Tax against the Health Care System, then take this 10% tax against the almost $4 Trillion Dollars, your factor must be a multiplication. Then you will see this Tax factor as net value of that system. But of course Government Officials will not show the a net value of a system or that one company, this wold make it to easy for the People to follow the Tax Dollar.
Remember this tax dollar does not include the split petition of the tax forum of increases in other areas, in the name of Health Care Reform. This tax forum I, or we can have very little effect against.
As for theses hidden taxes, they are not hidden. They are built into a split petition. They are meant not to be seen, only revealed as the Progressive Capital Tax Forum works the system in order to not over burden the money system. What is lost is trust because Government Officials by considering the public slow witted and as for this Bill, I want to read the Law that is to represent the Bill. This is because one word has a directive and a code and a sentence can lead to a different truth in concept.
So now it begins, the Civil Rights Law Suits and Constitutional Suits. We are not talking just a few law suits we are talking thousands will be filed because of the Freedom Of Choice is taken away and a Tax against money that is not Government Officials Rights to Tax, the Health Care Money for Coverage.
Within our web site we suggested to build a Government Web Site that will show the People the monthly income of this Health Care Dollar and what the dollar is used for. But of Course this can not be allowed this would audit the IRS and Government System.

So, what do you wish to do ? Sit back and complain or unite your voice as one and state that ,{ We believe in the Freedom Of Choice to be a Part Of this Health Care System or not. } We intend to give life to hope to where there is none.
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward. Join the trickle effect and email President Obama .....
Our goal is to start a trickle effect and the goal is President Obama and this Bill to Law. To merge 250 million veiws for a honest Health Care reform. The trickle effect is , Email President Barack Obama
Mar 20, 2009 ... How to contact President Barack Obama and other White House Officials.
www.emailthepresident.com/ - Cached – Similar
and state we support FASC Concepts in part or in full, and share your views and be respectful in order to gain respect.
Health Care within a moral value, is to ,
{ GIVE LIFE TO HOPE WHERE THERE IS NONE }
Henry Massingale
FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward
www.fascmovement.mysite.com on google. yahoo, and aol.com
please take the time and visit all my new friends on the net and if you wish to post with FASC Concepts you will be most welcomed. So join us and share your ideas as one in one voice. Just type in the web address and you will see over Results 1 - 10 of about 6,730 for www fascmovement com and there is over 10,000 post that are 6 month old.

Linda| 4.6.10 @ 9:46PM

Does anyone really know how the health care plan is going to work? I suspect that we will be paying more for our health care than we pay now. Thank you for the information and we can hope for the best.
Ulcer Relief

Daniel A| 6.24.11 @ 2:48AM

The Democrat leadership is desperate. Really, really desperate. They STILL don't have enough votes, even from their own party, to pass their version of HCR and now they are cajoling their own members to commit political suicide to pass a bill that doesn't exist.

How does Congress tell their constituents that they not only don't see the need to read the bills that they pass but now the bills don't even have to contain legislation for them to pass it.
Keep calling your elected representatives and tell them what you think of them and their methods. (Be polite). Remind them that you can always find someone else who is willing to actually support the people of your State.

Daniel A from pariuri sportive development team.