Monday, March 15, 2010

2,309 Pages Long

Oh. My. Damn (PDF File). It's a bit like Three Card Monte as I understand it.

Once the bill gets approved (likely Monday), Democrats will send this phantom bill over to the Rules Committee, where it will be stripped, and then they'll insert in all of the actual changes that they've negotiated.

Why all of the theatrics?

Well, under the reconciliation rules in last year's budget, any reconciliation bill would have to have been submitted to the Budget Committee by October 15, 2009. It just so happens that earlier versions of health care legislation cleared the Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees last year. So Democrats just dusted that legislation off, and are using that as the vehicle to begin the reconciliation process. That's why, for instance, if you look through the 2,309 page bill that was released Sunday night, you'll find a public option, which leadership has indicated would not actually be in the final bill. (Interestingly, the student loan bill is also tacked on at the end.)

Just a "simple up or down vote," remember?

All of these shenanigans because of one person. Scott "41" Brown was elected.

Hot Air has more about the bill and a something that sounds suspiciously like a "Death Panel".

MORE: Mighty brave of Nancy Pelosi asking for House members to fall on her sword for Barack's legacy. 35 Congressional Districts in swing states oppose the bill.

Contact your House members here.

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