This is what we in The Biz call a very good thing. The biggest problem with the whole health care fiasco is a total lack of movement. I know the GOP has been bleating that we need “more time” to read and work on the bill, but I figure if we can pass the PATRIOT Act the morning after it was printed out we can get some shit done on health care after a few months.
So while the Senate is stalling because of potential filibusters, the House might actually come to a vote. Now this is interesting for what I see as one big reason: the effect of the House vote on the Senate and vice versa. Will Democrats be hesitant to vote for it because it may get killed in the Senate? If not, and it passes by a wide margin, will the Senate be more likely to pass it due to the overwhelming support?
Oh, and one final note. Sometimes it’s dumb to make things partisan. Case in point:
Whenever Pelosi does introduce the bill, expect at least a 72-hour delay before it comes to the floor of the House. That’s because the speaker has bowed to Republican demands that the legislation be available to the public for at least three days before any vote.
I know the Goppers aren’t our favorite people right now, but I’m pretty sure that a whole bunch of people on the left and right were complaining that the public was unable to look at bills before they were voted on. I consider it a fine thing, myself. Not that I really expect too many people to be able to slog through the monstrous text anyway.
