Behind Closed Doors

The New Republic has reported on a new way Washington will pass Obamacare. Instead of formal committee meetings and bipartisan debates it will be done, well by another way:

" Now that both the House and Senate have passed health care reform bills, all Democrats have to do is work out a compromise between the two versions. And it appears they’re not about to let the Republicans gum up the works again.

According to a pair of senior Capitol Hill staffers, one from each chamber, House and Senate Democrats are “almost certain” to negotiate informally rather than convene a formal conference committee. Doing so would allow Democrats to avoid a series of procedural steps–not least among them, a series of special motions in the Senate, each requiring a vote with full debate–that Republicans could use to stall deliberations, just as they did in November and December.

“There will almost certainly be full negotiations but no formal conference,” the House staffer says. “There are too many procedural hurdles to go the formal conference route in the Senate.”"

So instead they will meet with a select group, of democrats of course, no republicans (so much for the "new washington" which was promised to bring bipartisanship), meeting in rooms behind closed doors (so much for "the most transparent administration") and avoiding hurdles. Hmm now why would they choose that path? Oh i know because they know they can't pass this the traditional way so they choose the old nazi world war II way.

Firedoglake reports this:

“Discussions are beginning early on the health care bill, although the House is not returning to session until January 12, and the Senate not until a week later. This will not be a traditional conference committee, Waxman said, because the motions to select and instruct conferees in the Senate “would need 60 votes all over again.” Instead, whatever agreements made could be packaged in an amendment to the bills passed by the House and Senate.”

So here the fascicrats are rejecting the committee meetings because they won't be able to pass it. They are rushing forward with a massive bill that no one will read, and are attempting to throw this on us at the last minute. This is the new Washington ladies and gentlemen. This, is CHANGE.