Broad social legislation has never been a part of the reconciliation process
A Little Social Engineering is Death
“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:3
Believe it or not, the Bible is especially relevant where Washington politics is concerned. In this case Paul’s suggestion to Timothy is not to become a drunkard, but to add a small amount of the antioxidants found in red wine to his diet. In the same case, a bit of moderation would immensely useful in DC.
A lot of press has been issued over the senate reconciliation process. Currently it is being used to allow the Congress to avoid a filibuster by the GOP and then allow the Democrats to pass ObamaCare without any Republican Support…or any of those missing Democrat votes they need for an actual majority.
The reconciliation process was created in 1974 as part of a budget resolution primarily to deal with budget-related bills. It was intended to deal with only budgetary issues and when used by the GOP in the past that was all it was used for. Democratic Senator Robert Byrd, one of the primary sponsors of the reconciliation called what his own party planned to do with his rule “misguided”. The letter’s main text can be found here.
It isn’t surprising that every poll worth mentioning has recorded a large majority of the American public not only do not want ObamaCare to pass, but that they are even less pleased with how the Democrats are dealing with the issue. It is also no surprise that the Obama Administration could not care less what the American people think. This is what Robert Gibbs, Obama’s Press Secretary said when questioned about the Democrats use of the process:
“Reconciliation was the vehicle for welfare reform; it was the vehicle for the Bush tax cut in 2001, at a cost of $1.3 trillion; it was the vehicle for the tax cut in 2003 at a cost of $350 billion; it is how S-CHIP came to be, which is parlance for the Children’s Health Insurance Program; it is how COBRA came to be, which provides the ability for an individual that loses their job to continue their health care coverage when that happens.”
This is where Paul’s suggestion to Timothy comes into play. Gibbs is saying, in essence, that if the GOP was allowed to sip, the Democrats should be allowed to guzzle. Broad social legislation has never been a part of the reconciliation process. S-Chip and COBRA were both focused budgetary items. Reconciliation has never been and never should be a tool used to force social engineering down the voters’ throats.
My own Congresswoman, Dina Titus (God help me) voted for the Healthcare bill when it was a mere 1000 page document and voted against it when it passed 2000. Now that it is nearer to 3000, she isn’t saying exactly how she will vote, but there are hints.
On a local talk show yesterday, Titus claimed the ObamaCare would give to the American taxpayer the same quality healthcare that Congress enjoys. Of course, Dina is also the same Nevada State Senator that claimed a tax on the weight of freight and how far it was shipped would not affect the prices of the goods carried, so consider the intellectual capacity of the source. She has also echoed the DNC talking points put forth by Gibbs, as all of the Democrats are doing, including her Nevada sorority sister Shelly Berkley.
Both Titus and Berkley insist that they are keeping close touch with their constituents, but neither have accepted a single phone call from home. They claim that the lines are jammed, but right across the hall GOP Congressman Dean Heller has no trouble taking calls, including those of both Titus and Berkley constituents. Many of those calling Heller have asked him to please walk across the hall and deliver the message that the Democrat Congresswomen have been hoping to avoid hearing, Vote no on ObamaCare.
Obama has lied continuously to America and he is doing so now. Nancy Pelosi laughed when she was asked if politicians should be held to their word. Harry Reid has yet to tell the truth, and other than Robert Byrd, it seems that the primary talking point for every Democrat in Washington today is lie, lie some more and keep on lying until they believe it.
The strategy isn’t working.
There are times when moderation is a good thing, such as a moderate diet or when it is necessary in attempting to gain a consensus between polar opposites in a dispute. But there are also times when even a little of something is bad. The Bible is quite clear on that message as well. Just as with the wages of sin, where the Constitution of the United States is concerned, a little social engineering is death.
| | Bob Beers
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Bob L. Beers was a member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 21 in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to his election in 2006, he was an author involved in graphic arts and illustration.
Originally from Eureka, California, Beers attended Arcata High School and Humboldt State College. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada with his wife and son.
Bob can be reached at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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