Michelle Malkin » Single-payer on the Senate floor; Update: Dems end bill reading with questionable tactics

Single-payer on the Senate floor; Update: Dems end bill reading with questionable tactics

By Michelle Malkin • December 16, 2009 12:40 PM

If you have cable TV, tune in to C-SPAN now. Or watch live here.

This is transparency in action.

The Senate’s chief socialist, Bernie Sanders, offered a single-payer health care amendment. It would open Medicare to all regardless of age, income, etc., and would be paid through higher income taxes. The normal procedure on the Senate floor would have been to dispense with the reading of the amendment. But “to alert taxpayers to this latest Washington scheme to take away your health care decisions,” Senator Coburn’s office writes, Sen. Coburn demanded that the full text of the 767 page Sanders amendment be read by the Senate clerk.

It’s being read now.

The clerk just read a droning bureaucratic section on government oversight of hearing aid tests and another on “dietary management” services.

(Fun fact: It took 17 minutes to read the 6 page table of contents.)

Big Nanny dreams and schemes laid bare.

***

10:55am Eastern. The clerk is now reading a section involving dental services, with specific details about “molars” and “posterior teeth.”

Ed Morrissey notes the strategy:

What does this do? It makes a hash out of Harry Reid’s plan to move the bill through the Senate by Christmas. Twelve hours of floor time for just a single amendment means that no other business can be conducted until at least Friday. Coburn apparently launched this effort in response to an attempt by Reid to shove the bill to a cloture vote without giving everyone enough time to read the bill or peruse the CBO analysis, due this week.

It’s a reminder that even with a supermajority, Reid needs to work with the minority to keep momentum. He can’t pull a Nancy Pelosi jamdown in the upper chamber, and any further attempts will mean weeks of bill reading as the legislation effectively filibusters itself.

It’s on.

***

Jim DeMint: “If Reid won’t slow down this debate, we will do it for him.”

Coburn calls out Baucus and Dems admitting they don’t have time to read or understand Reid’s plan:

***

Update: Hmmm. The Dems had Sanders pull his amendment a little before 3:00pm Eastern.

Roll Call reports:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday afternoon withdrew his proposal to create a single-payer insurance system after Republicans compelled Senate clerks to spend hours reading his 767-page amendment to the health care bill as a way to slow down work on the legislation. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) forced clerks to begin reading the amendment in the Republicans’ first attempt at stalling the health care bill.

How Sanders was able to withdraw his amendment is unclear — under the chamber’s rules it appears that a motion to withdraw would not be in order during the reading of the bill. However, the Senate Parliamentarian — in what a GOP aide called “an incredibly bizarre decision” — ruled Sanders’ request was allowable.

Coburn, who originally forced the reading of the amendment, attempted to call for the “regular order,” which would be the reading of the amendment. However, the presiding officer recognized Sanders long enough for him to withdraw, saying it was within the Senator’s rights to do so.

More on the rules from Philip Klein at the American Spectator.

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#101

On December 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Politico just reported Pelosi announcing that there will no healthcare bill this year. Add that to the amnesty and cap and tax bills. Everyone in the House is running for re-election next year and it is looking very bad for the Dems. Not so good for the GOP either. Looks great for the Tea Party movement and conservatives. We are not even represented in Washington and yet we have the entire government tied up in a knot. Things are either going to open up next year or the establishment losers are going to make one last gasp push to cram something down our throats before they leave town. I like our chances here.
#102

On December 16th, 2009 at 5:52 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Sorry. Here’s the Politico link.
#103

On December 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm, Ron said:

So, you expected Democrats to play by the rules? Ha! All I can say is more power to Senators Coburn and DeMint, and let notice be served that the WHOLE bill will have to be read before its voted on. Unless they’d care to withdraw it.
#104

On December 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm, happyscrapper said:

On December 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Pasadena…I believe you are in a minority here and elsewhere. A third party right now would destroy our chances at taking Congress in 2010. Wise up. Rush, Beck, Hannity, many many others wiser than you have said we need to work through the GOP and reform the party. A third pary will only succeed in splitting our vote and ensuring the liberals retain power. Please listen to the voice of reason and get off this third party kick. I know this post will make you angry. Sorry, but it is not just my opinion. I am saying what many experts on the subject are also saying. Please don’t shoot the messenger.
#105

On December 16th, 2009 at 7:14 pm, flenser said:

The assumption behind the “Erik Erikson Gambit” was that the Dems would let piddling little things like the Senate rules stand in their way.

Erik seems like a nice guy, but a little naive.
#106

On December 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm, Rekd said:

:clapping:

happyscrapper nailed it. A large move towards a third party now would only serve to ensure the Dems another win in 2010.
#107

On December 16th, 2009 at 8:38 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

On December 16th, 2009 at 2:25 pm, Dexter Alarius said:
THey should have had ‘Master Thespian’ William Shatner read it, with his beatnik band providing appropriate riffs.

Democrats(kids): “Down with Grups!”
“Bonk! Bonk! Lovey-Dovey!”
“Blah! Blah! Blah!”

Capt. Kirk: No Blah! Blah! Blah!
#108

On December 16th, 2009 at 8:43 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

On December 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, cicerokid said:
Let Barry Hussein read it. He reads real good.

Tru Dat! He be one articulate mofo, as long as there is an electrical outlet nearby!
#109

On December 16th, 2009 at 9:08 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

Excellent polling news! Dems are sinking fast and prospects look grim for 2010. GOP? Curb your enthusiasm.

But public displeasure with Democrats wasn’t translating directly into warmth for Republicans. Twenty-eight percent of voters expressed positive feelings about the GOP — a number that has remained constant through the Democrats’ decline over the summer and fall. Only 5% said their feelings toward the Republicans were “very positive.”

For those of you who believe that voting for a 3rd party is a losing strategy, we might see in 2012 whether you will continue to vote for your favorite 3rd party, the GOP. Support of Republicans keeps dropping too.

It’s great being us!
#110

On December 16th, 2009 at 9:17 pm, rightisright said:

Sadly, the Idiot American Electorate is nowhere near intelligent enough to comprehend such truths.

I couldn’t agree more, we keep seeing and hearing how smart the American voters are , how they pick up on all this crap being shoved down our throats. That being the case how did we end with such crooked, self-centered, elitists that control congress not to mention the worse, most un_American president and administration?
#111

On December 16th, 2009 at 9:38 pm, rightisright said:

Thank heaven for the few congressmen we have like Coburn, DeMint, Sessions and a few others. Go get men we need you more than ever to save this(once?) great country.
#112

On December 16th, 2009 at 11:13 pm, drfredc said:

Never let a Crisis go unused…
The GOP should start proposing amendments (written in clear English, not legaleze since they’ll never get adopted). After the English reading, another GOP senator should ask the amendment be read in Spanish so the Spanish speaking folks understand the amendment, then Swahili, etc, etc.

So long as the liberal packed courts have declared there’s no English is the official langauge, seems everyone deserves the debate and amendments be offered in everyone’s language…

If the Dem’s want to stop it, simple, propose an English Offical Language amendment to health reform… Squeeze the Dems for all they are worth…

Then run on these issues (simple health reform and English as Offical Language) in 2010.
#113

On December 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am, WarEagle82 said:

No offense, but these leftist clowns have ignored and flaunted the US Constitution at will. Does anyone really think they care about breaking “Roberts Rules of Order” in the Senate?

The whole thing is a charade and they will do whatever it takes to pass this monstrosity regardless of how loudly the American people scream at them!

Parliamentary rules are not going to stop these folks!
#114

On December 17th, 2009 at 10:18 am, mattm said:

Waaah…

I was fun watchign MSNBC whinign about the Clerk having to read the thing. Hey idiot, that’s their job.