Democrats Propose Changing the Rules Mid-Stream — Again
On “Meet the Press” yesterday, Health “Czar” Nancy-Ann DeParle claimed that the Senate had already passed its health bill by a “supermajority,” and “we’re not talking about changing any rules here.” But it’s worth noting that the ONLY way the Senate ever passed legislation with 60 votes in the first place is because Democrats in Massachusetts changed their rules for the sole purpose of allowing an unelected senator to cast the deciding 60th vote. As one observer noted, the Legislature’s action was “all about health care,” and the White House weighed in personally with the Governor to jam the process through. Here’s what some of President Obama’s fellow Democrats said back in September about the Administration-led initiative to change the rules of the process:
Senator Brian A. Joyce, a Milton Democrat wrote 2004 legislation for special Senate elections: “It’s wrong to change the rules depending on who’s in power…We shouldn’t change the rules by which we govern our democracy depending upon who the governor is.’’
Senator Steven A. Tolman, a Brighton Democrat: “This is politics, right? Sure it’s politics.’’
Representative Cory Atkins, a Concord Democrat: “Some people say this is political…Of course it is political.”
A “political” move to “change the rules depending on who’s in power?” Sounds a lot like downgrading a 60-vote majority down to a 51-vote reconciliation bill – making this the second time the Democrat majority would attempt to change political rules in order to jam through a government takeover of health care…