Government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to some Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate . If a government health plan is part of the deal “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn, said.”
“The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.
Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and “take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people.”
The problem is that the Senate won’t run with it. The government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate.
If a government plan is part of the deal, “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters.
“The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said dismissively.
Democrats did not line up to challenge him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has yet to schedule floor debate and hinted last week that senators may not be able to finish health care this year.
Nonetheless, the House vote provided an important lesson in how to succeed with less-than-perfect party unity, and one that Senate Democrats may be able to adapt. House Democrats overcame their own divisions and broke an impasse that threatened the bill after liberals grudgingly accepted tougher restrictions on abortion funding, as abortion opponents demanded.
In Senate, the stumbling block is the idea of the government competing with private insurers. Liberals may have to swallow hard and accept a deal without a public plan in order to keep the legislation alive. As in the House, the compromise appears to be to the right of the political spectrum.
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who voted for a version of the Senate bill in committee, has given the Democrats a possible way out. She’s proposing to allow a government plan as a last resort, if after a few years premiums keep escalating and local health insurance markets remain in the grip of a few big companies. This is the “trigger” option.
That approach appeals to moderates such as Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. “If the private market fails to reform, there would be a fallback position,” Landrieu said last week. “It should be triggered by choice and affordability, not by political whim.”
Lieberman said he opposes the public plan because it could become a huge and costly entitlement program. “I believe the debt can break America and send us into a recession that’s worse than the one we’re fighting our way out of today,” he said.
For now, Reid is trying to find the votes for a different approach: a government plan that states could opt out of.
The Senate is not likely to jump ahead this week on health care. Reid will keep meeting with senators to see if he can work out a political formula that will give him not only the 60 votes needed to begin debate, but the 60 needed to shut off discussion and bring the bill to a final vote.”
“The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later — and Obama issued a statement saying, “I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year.”
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government’s mandates.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price fixing and market allocation.
At its core, the measure would create a federally regulated marketplace where consumers could shop for coverage. In the bill’s most controversial provision, the government would sell insurance, although the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that premiums for it would be more expensive than for policies sold by private firms.
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, “the bill is passed.”
The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, “We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system.””
“”We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, `this is making me sick,”‘ jabbed Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., adding that Democrats were intent on passing “a jobs-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding” bill.”
“Health Care Debate on Capitol Hill Begins”
“The debate on the House floor comes as President Obama prepares to make a rare visit to Capitol Hill aimed at closing the deal, a move that reflects the do-or-die stakes.”
“The House kicked off what is expected to be a tense day of debate Saturday leading up to a final vote on legislation acting on President Obama’s call for a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.
The debate on the House floor comes as Obama prepares to make a rare visit to Capitol Hill aimed at closing the deal, a move that reflects the do-or-die stakes.
The historic House vote, planned for late Saturday, was expected to be tight and Democratic leaders hoped Obama’s late-morning visit would tip the balance in their favor.
In the opening moments of debate, Democrats hailed the legislation, which would extend insurance to tens of millions of Americans and enact dramatic changes to the country’s medical system, as an advance for the nation’s social fabric and a moral and economic imperative.
Republicans said it would be a government takeover of the health care system that would damage the economy and erode the doctor-patient relationship.
Late Friday, House Democrats cleared an abortion-related impasse blocking a vote and officials expressed optimism they had finally lined up the support needed to pass Obama’s signature issue.
“We expect it to come to a vote. We expect it to have 218 votes,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Saturday.”
“With Democrats’ command of the necessary votes looking tenuous in the final hours, Obama threw the weight of his administration behind the effort to round up support. He and top administration officials worked the phones to pressure wavering lawmakers.
Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said he heard Friday from Obama, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Their message: “This is a historic moment. You don’t want to end up with nothing,” said Altmire, who remained undecided.
Democratic leaders hoped to hold the vote Saturday evening, but Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said it could slip.
Democrats hold 258 seats in the House and can afford 40 defections and still wind up with 218, a majority if all lawmakers vote. But all 177 Republicans were expected to vote “no,” and Democratic leaders faced a series of complications trying to seal the needed votes for their complex and controversial legislation that would affect one-sixth of the economy and touch the lives of countless Americans.”
“Democrats have little room for error, with the prospect of the 2010 midterms looming large and a some of their own moderates already declaring their opposition.”
Read more:
Judge Napolitano, substituting for Glenn Beck on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, warned Michele Bachmann about Nancy Pelosi and her power to disrupt the tea party protest on the Capitol steps today, November 5, 2009.
“Bachmann Warned Of Pelosi Security Crackdown On Capitol Tea Party”
From Fox News, November 5, 2009
“Republicans Try to Rally Resistance to Health Care Bill, as House Vote Nears”
“With health care reform tracking toward a possible vote in the House Saturday, Republicans are making a last-ditch bid to derail or at least delay the legislation by bringing public pressure to the steps of Congress.
The GOP is organizing a “House Call” Thursday afternoon on Capitol Hill, where they plan to rally constituents concerned about the implications of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill. Republicans are calling on those who attend to corner, politely, their elected representatives in Congress and put pressure on them to think twice about voting for the more than $1 trillion health care overhaul.”
“”It seems like the lessons of the town halls and the tea parties are lost on these people,” Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-Minn., told Fox News. “So we need to bring the town hall here … and plead for real freedom-loving Americans to come to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.”
The conservative “tea party” movement has gotten involved with the rally, which is expected to feature speakers as well as the formal unveiling of the Republican version of health care reform.
Bachmann said she hatched this idea as a way to “really kill this bill.” ”
“”A lot of Blue Dogs in this country are going to have a lot of ‘splaining to do back at home in their districts, where people do not want the health care that’s being peddled by this administration,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told Fox News. “They don’t want government control. They don’t want a government option.” The Senate, where Democrats have a slighter majority, is not progressing quite as fast. There are emerging doubts over whether the Senate can bring a bill to the floor by the end of the year.”
Politicians Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the Democratic controlled Congress are attempting to ram the Obama socialist Health Care Bill down the throats of the American public. Patriot stateswoman, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, is trying to stop passage of a government run Health Care Program. Michele Bachmann will confront Pelosi and Congress on the steps of the Capitol Building on Thursday, November 5, 2009. We must support Bachmann.
Regardless of what the out of control Congress does, we must get rid of Reid and Pelosi. Harry Reid can be voted out of office in 2010. Whether or not Pelosi can be voted out of office, since she represents one of the most liberal parts of the country, does not matter. We can change Congress and remove her as Speaker of the House. That is very doable.
Let’s focus on Harry Reid and his involvement in chicanery and constitutionally shady activites, attempting to force socialist health care upon us.
Over the past several months, the makeup of the senate and the number of senators required to pass a Health Care Bill has been talked about and analyzed. Two numbers, 50 and 60, have been frequently mentioned. The following explains what Harry Reid and his cohorts are attempting to do (recent events may make even this difficult to achieve).
From the US House rules
“THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROCESS
In the Senate, total debate on a reconciliation bill is limited to 20 hours, although the actual time for consideration of the omnibus package often exceeds this time limit set in the Budget Act. Motions and amendments may be offered and considered without debate at the end of this time period. There are also restrictions on the content of a reconciliation package and on the amendments which may be offered to it. For example, any amendment to the bill that is not germane, would add extraneous material, would cause deficit levels to increase, or that contains recommendations with respect to the Social Security program, is not in order. The Budget Act also maintains that reconciliation provisions must be related to reconciling the budget. For example, section 313 of the Budget Act, more commonly known as the “Byrd Rule”, provides a point of order in the Senate against extraneous matter in reconciliation bills. Determining what is extraneous is often a procedural and political quagmire navigated in part by the Senate Parliamentarian. The Byrd Rule and other points of order in the Budget Act may only be waived in the Senate by a three-fifths vote. Furthermore, the Budget Act prevents reconciliation legislation from being filibustered on the Senate floor.”
“Once Obama’s plan fails to attract 60 votes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will fall back on reconciliation as a strategy and hope for 50 votes. But if the Democrats pass the bill with 50 votes, it will set a precedent they may come to rue. It would basically eliminate the filibuster as a parliamentary tactic and would condemn any future minority party (Democrats in 2011?) to the same irrelevance as afflicts their House colleagues. To be in the minority in a chamber run by a bare majority is not a fun task.”
From the Las Vegas Review Journal October 18, 2009
“If Harry Reid decides to use the Senate’s “reconciliation” process to ram health care legislation through his chamber and crush a filibuster, then he’ll have to reconcile something else: his astounding hypocrisy.
The majority leader from Nevada is working behind closed doors to merge health care bills passed by the Senate’s health and finance committees. He desperately wants to come up with something that can get 60 votes — the number needed to halt any attempt by minority Republicans to block a final vote on the massive expansion of federal authority.
Although Reid has 60 votes in his caucus, it might be an impossible task. Moderate Democrats oppose a “public option” that allows the government to sell health insurance and undercut private-sector providers, and far-left Democrats are insisting that any bill include the first step toward nationalized health care.
So Reid has let it be known that wrangling over the public option might compel him to go with the “nuclear option”: ending a filibuster without 60 votes.
To do that, Reid would have to use a parliamentary maneuver called “budget reconciliation.” Votes on the federal budget are exempt from filibusters. If he takes this route, Reid would have to pretend the legislation is a simple matter of fiscal housekeeping — a routine issue that needs just 51 votes to pass.
Given the complexity and controversy surrounding new health insurance mandates and regulations, such an end-around would be unprecedented.”
“”The filibuster is a critical tool in keeping the majority in check,” Reid continued. “This central fact has been acknowledged and even praised by senators from both parties. …”
“The right to extended debate is never more important than when one party controls Congress and the White House. …”
“Some in this Chamber want to throw out 217 years of Senate history in the quest for absolute power. They want to do away with Mr. Smith coming to Washington. They want to do away with the filibuster. They think they are wiser than our Founding Fathers. I doubt that’s true.””
“In other words, the filibuster is “a critical tool in keeping the majority in check” when Democrats are in the minority, but it’s a disposable relic when liberals are trying to run up the national debt and regulate our economy to death.”
“But if he decides to take the filibuster out back and shoot it, he risks incurring even more wrath from Nevada voters, who already are growing tired of his expedience and pandering to the far left. A Review-Journal poll conducted this month found 54 percent of registered Nevada voters don’t want Reid to use reconciliation to pass sweeping health insurance regulations. Only 32 percent approve of the tactic.
“If he does that, he is resigning himself to not being re-elected (in 2010),” said Brad Coker of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the poll.
If he does that, no amount of explaining, no amount of convenient forgetting will save Hypocrite Harry.”
“He (Reid) and Pelosi have totally destroyed this country,” said Elouise Joyner of Bullhead City. “I have no idea what their agenda is, but it’s not an American agenda,” she said. “There’s nobody that wants this stupid health care bill, yet he’s going to push it.”
“I don’t think he should be returned (to office) because I don’t believe in his philosophy,” said Jeannie Norris of Mesquite, Nev. “I don’t want more taxes.”
“He hasn’t done anything for Nevada,” said Norris’ husband, Jim, “and he just doesn’t represent me and he doesn’t believe in what I believe in.””
“There is a lot of work to do before the Mid Term elections in 2010 and not much time to do it. If you have a little extra time, we are looking for volunteers to lend a hand in this effort.
As a darling of the left, Harry Reid is the one most well funded candidates in the Senate and that is just his own campaign war chest. So far he has over 7 million dollars as of his last quarterly report. He will also be aided by every left wing special interest group in America.
The DNC has identified his seat as one that is particularly vulnerable seeing how unpopular he is with many Nevada voters. Recent polls show his unfavorable ratings hovering around 50%.
Unlike ACORN we will not be receiving any of the stimulus money. This means we are not going to be able to do this alone. It will take a group effort to have a real effect.
Like many of Harry Reid’s constituents, we do not feel that the Senator is representing the interests of the people of the great State of Nevada. Senator Reid has become one of the spokespersons for the expansion of government and for trillions of dollars in deficit spending.”
Harry Reid recently has indicated that a Health Care Bill may not be passed this week. The elections yesterday and the Michele Bachmann Tea party on the Capitol steps tomorrow may cause some Democrats to think twice about voting against their constituents’ wishes. However, do not trust Harry Reid. Keep a close eye on him.
And make certain Reid is voted out of office next year.
“THE TEA PARTY EXPRESS SENDING
DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON!
We’ve tipped you off to the fact that we have a lot of big announcements to make, and here’s one more to add to the list (and there are many more to come in these next few days).
As you know, last week Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann put out the call to patriots across the country to head to Washington, D.C. this Thursday, 12:00 Noon for a press conference and rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Well, friends, we are answering her call! The goal: to defeat Nancy Pelosi’s government-run, socialistic healthcare plan.
During this time we’ve been collecting thousands upon thousands of letters at each of our Tea Party Express rallies across the nation.
Tomorrow we will be flying out two leaders of the Tea Party Express from the middle of our tour to Washington, D.C. with those letters – and they will be carrying your message to the politicians in D.C. Those two representatives will be the great tea party activist, Amy Kremer, and Tea Party Express Co-Chair, Deborah Johns.
Then on Friday, Mark Williams – our other Co-Chair of the Tea Party Express, will be flying out to Washington to follow up that effort – including an appearance on the nationally syndicated “America’s Morning News” radio program hosted by Melanie Morgan and John McCaslin.
This will all be taking place as the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day tour continues – building more and more momentum as we cross the nation.
We continue to ask for your support for the Tea Party Express as we cross the country for the next 12 days. As we keep incurring more and more costs – to expand this effort – we ask for your support by making a donation to the Tea Party Express effort.
You can make a contribution – HERE.
Or, you can mail in a contribution to our headquarters:
Our Country Deserves Better Committee
ATTN: Tea Party Project
770 L Street #1020
Sacramento, CA 95814
We’ve got to keep pushing harder and harder. We hope we can count on your support once more! Again to contribute – JUST CLICK HERE.
P.S. We’ll keep updating our trip reports on the Tea Party Express II rallies at our blog – including going back and adding more details, pictures and news accounts of the rallies that have taken place over the past 9 days: http://teapartyexpressblog.blogspot.com/
”
Here is an update from the Tea Party Express site
“Tuesday, November 3, 2009
What a fantastic rally in Rapid City, South Dakota!
After our great rally in Bozeman, MT we made up some of the distance to Rapid City, SD by driving a ways to Billings, MT.
It was Halloween night and we were sick of the ‘tricks’ being played on “We The People” by the politicians. The next morning we had a long drive across Montana, Wyoming and into South Dakota – in a land where cell phone towers are few and far between. That meant no Internet access and no cell phone access.
We arrived at our venue at the Central States Fairgrounds and had a fantastic event in their rodeo hall. Here are some pics for you all to enjoy:”
I just listened to congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota explain the Health Care Bill on the Sean Hannity Show on Fox. As usual she was articulate, well informed and to the point about the lies being told to the American public.
Michele Bachmann announced that she will be on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at noon to confront Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress. She is asking for other concerned Americans to come to Washington DC next week to protest this socialist bill being forced on the American public. She stated that many Democrats are on the fence and need to hear from their constituents.
I have been listening to congresswoman Michele Bachmann for several months and like congressman Joe Wilson, she is impressive, refreshing and the real deal. Let’s back her on this initiative 100%.
I am asking those reading this blog to help spread this story and let Michele Bachmann know that we support her and efforts to save this country. Let other congressmen know that we do not want this Health Care Bill and that we want more congressmen like Bachmann and Wilson.
I have already sent Michele Bachmann an email to offer my assistance.
The Tea Party Express II will be in one of my favorite parts of the country today, Northern California and Southern Oregon. Redding, CA and Medford, OR will be the site of Tea Party protests today, October 29, 2009.
Here are some reports from recent Tea Party Express II protests in California and Nevada.
Hello from Walnut Creek, CA – a community in the East Bay of the San Francisco metropolitan area. So in the sea of liberalism stood an island of patriotic Americans rallying together today united in the effort to advance the tea party movement.”
“There’s also a crucial Congressional Special Election coming up here on November 3rd which features David Harmer (a Republican who strongly opposes government-run healthcare) up against California Lieutenant Governor, John Garamendi (a Democrat who is a big advocate of government-run healthcare and the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda of big government, bailouts, higher taxes and out-of-control spending).
Harmer spoke at this evening’s rally to an enthusiastic crowd – perhaps the most enthusiastic crowd we’ve had since the kickoff event in San Diego, CA. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy – we sure enjoyed the great people of Walnut Creek:”
CNN’s Jon King interviewed Tea Party Express Vice Chair, Mark Williams, about the “Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day.”
A relatively fair interview with CNN’s King asking questions and allowing the Tea Party Express’s Mark Williams to respond. There’s some good stuff in this interview, friends!”
“Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent from Connecticut, said Tuesday that he will not vote for a healthcare reform bill that includes a government-run insurance plan.
This means that as things now stand, Democrats will not have enough votes to pass healthcare reform with a so-called public option unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) can pick up unexpected GOP votes.
Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), the only Republican to vote for the Senate Finance Committee’s healthcare bill, said Tueday that she would vote against bringing up a bill that included a government-run insurance program unless the implementation of such a program were set to a trigger.
Lieberman said he would vote with Reid and other Democrats on a motion to begin debate on a healthcare bill because he believes it is an important issue that needs to be considered. But he said he would not lend his support to an effort to cut off debate on a bill including a government-run insurance program.
Lieberman said he told Reid of his position in a recent conversation and that the leader “respected and understood.”
“We’re trying to do too much at once,” said Lieberman. “To put this government-created, government-run insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayer, for the premium payer and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”
Lieberman said he was not placated by allowing states to opt out of the public option “because it still creates a whole new federal government entitlement program, for which taxpayers will eventually be on the line.””
Instead of writing one big article on Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, I will be writing a series of articles on Reid. Harry Reid is involved in so much dirty party politics and has negatively impacted this country in so many ways that one article does not do this subject justice.
Since Harry Reid was instrumental in ramroding through an illegal candidate for president, Barack Obama, and in supporting the usurper in office, it is fitting that we look at the core issue of why Harry Reid behaves as he does.
Harry Reid, as is true of many in Congress, has an ignorance of and disregard for the US Constitution. The Citizen Wells blog highlighted this fact by inducting Reid into the Hall of Shame in 2008.
The Citizen Wells blog and it’s well informed viewers and commenters are not the only ones to believe that Harry Reid has a disregard for the US Constitution.
From the Wall Street Journal, January 3, 2009.
“Harry Reid v. the Constitution”
“An Illinois court will eventually decide if Governor Rod Blagojevich is guilty of corruption. But on at least one issue he is more law-abiding than Majority Leader Harry Reid and fellow Democrats: the seating of Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.”
“Meanwhile, Mr. Reid and Washington Democrats are refusing to seat Mr. Burris, never mind their lack of authority to do so. As an initial matter, they’re hiding behind the Illinois secretary of state, who is refusing to certify the appointment. But Mr. Burris has asked a court to order the secretary of state to carry out what under state law would typically be a nondiscretionary duty. In any event, Beltway Democrats can’t inject themselves into what is clearly a matter of Illinois law.”
“While the Constitution says the Senate can determine its own membership, the Court in Powell interpreted Article I, Section 5 to say that “in judging the qualifications of its members, Congress is limited to the standing qualifications prescribed in the Constitution.” Nowhere in the Constitution is there a “qualification” saying that a Senator must not have been appointed by an embarrassing Illinois Governor.
Mr. Reid is also attempting the dodge of referring the matter to the Senate Rules Committee, which is run by Democrats, but the Powell precedent ought to be clear even to political lawyers. If Mr. Reid wants to banish Mr. Burris, he must first seat him and then persuade two-thirds of the Senate to expel him. Needless to say, the last thing Mr. Reid wants to do is create turmoil in his party by expelling an African-American Democrat whose only offense has been to accept an appointment to serve. But if Mr. Reid does go that route, we’d suggest worthier expulsion possibilities, such as Connecticut’s Chris Dodd, who received sweetheart mortgages from Countrywide Financial while sitting on the Banking Committee.”
“Republicans want Illinois to hold a special election for the vacant seat, and we recommended that ourselves (as did Mr. Obama) when the Blagojevich tapes first became public. But now that Mr. Burris has been appointed, Mr. Reid can’t legally deny him his seat. If this is the way Democrats are going to use their new monopoly on Beltway power even against a member of their own party, we’re in for an ugly couple of years.”
“The President says the Constitution is defective, and now Senator Harry Reid is preparing the coup de grace.”
“Once Reid and Obama emerge from their transparent closed-door consultations on how to blend the two competing Senate Health Care bills, Senator Reid has a nifty parlor trick up his sleeve. The normal course of legislative events would be to debate and vote on the bill on the Senate floor, and then send the result to a House-Senate conference committee. The committee would then blend the final House and Senate bills into a product acceptable to both houses.”
“The rub here, and the reason Senator Reid has conjured up his little parlor trick, is the Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 7: All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.
Technically the amended bill will have originated in the House, in the same manner that a blank piece of House letterhead stationary originates in the House. This trick has apparently been used for expediency on past occasions, but the far-reaching and perhaps irreversible effects in this case, combined with the obvious intent to pull a fast one on America, lead one to question the respect for the American people exhibited by our so-called representatives, aka our elected royalty. Congress plans to employ a technicality to pay lip service to the Constitution, using the shell of a House bill to in effect make a hollow shell of the Constitution.”
Harry Reid has no regard for First Amendment Rights and freedom of the press.
From News Busters, August 30, 2009.
“Harry Reid Threatens Las Vegas Newspaper”
“Harry Reid, perhaps emulating the bullying tactics of an out-of-control Obama administration, has openly wished for the Las Vegas Review-Journal to ‘go out of business’ – a newspaper which has held opposing political viewpoints with the Senator.
But then, is this really shocking coming from a veiled supporter of the Fairness Doctrine?
The comment came when Bob Brown, the Journal’s Director of Advertising, met with Reid at a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon. During the simple process of handshaking, an exchange in which most people with an ounce of class can pull off without issue, Reid said to Brown: “I hope you go out of business.””
“Frederick’s column ends with this thought: “…we serve notice on Sen. Reid that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated.” The question remains, will Nevadans also serve notice come the election in 2010?”
Harry Reid not only does not understand the law, he is out of touch with reality.
U.S. Senator Harry Reid – “Taxation Is Voluntary”
From Letters sent to Harry Reid regarding eligibility issues surrounding Barack Obama. This was part of the US Constitution Hall of Shame effort on this blog.
Letter 1
“I received the following letter and wrote a response to Harry Reid after an e-mail I sent him in November imploring him and all leaders to uphold the Constitution. He of course is one of the biggest idiots in the whole Washington elite THUGS!!! I will also post the letter and response my husband sent him in a seperate post. My initial e-mail to all elected officials in the state of Nevada…………………………….=============================
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a citizen of the United States of America and specifically the state of Nevada. Many of our citizens are getting caught up in what they are coining a “historic election” in electing the first black man to the highest office in our land. However, as a concerned citizen and patriot I am demanding that all of you state officials who represent my voice……. demand that we know who the people of this country elected to be POTUS in the name of Barack Obama.
He has not been forth coming with a lot of his background and history. We have not seen his official birth certificate that contains a state seal. My husband was born in 1961 also and his official birth certificate looks nothing like the one Mr. Obama is trying to pass off as authentic. No one has seen any detailed medical documents. A one page note from a doctor stating he is okay is not sufficient. My daughter needs more than that to be admitted back into school after a 3 day absence!!!
It is a requirement per our Constitution that anyone wishing to be POTUS must be a “natural born citizen”. To date no one has seen Mr. Obama’s birth certificate except for two people in Hawaii who say it exists. Now Obama has ordered this information to be sealed. As an American citizen and registered voter I have a vested interest in learning the truth here and we need you to act and act NOW!!!!!!!!!
I can’t and won’t support this president-elect until he comes clean with who he is and if he meets all of the qualifications to hold the most powerful job in the world!!
AS OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO US TO SEE THIS THROUGH BEFORE OUR CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN PROSTITUTED BY AN ANTI-AMERICAN FRAUD!!!!!
Sincerely,
Jacqlyn xxxxxxx
Henderson, Nevada
P.S. If you happen to be an official of the Electoral College then I am requesting you vote on December 15, 2008 against Barack Obama and for the real patriot in John McCain…… unless Mr. Obama proves to the American people before then that he meets all the requirements to become “our” leader and entrust “our” lives and the lives of “our” children to him!!!!”
Letter 1 response
“December 5, 2008
Mrs. Jacqlyn xxxxxxx
Henderson, Nevada 89052
Dear Mrs. xxxxxxx
Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing from you.
According to Article I, Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution, any person serving in the United States House of Representatives must have reached the age of twenty-five and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and any person serving in the United States Senate must have reached the age of thirty and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years. In addition, Article II, Section 1 mandates that a person must have reached the age of thirty-five and be a natural born citizen in order to serve as President of the United States.
As you mentioned, some reports have surfaced that my former colleague, President-Elect Barack Obama, is not a natural-born American citizen. These reports are false. Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. His birth certificate is a matter of public record of the State of Hawai’i and is available online through various news sources, as well as on the Web site for the nonpartisan, nonprofit Annenberg Political Fact Check: http://www.factcheck.org. I hope you find this information useful.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
?
HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada”
Response to Harry Reid’s response:
“HR:=========================My e-mail responding to his Dec. 5th e-mail!!!! Quite pathetic…..I haven’t heard from him since!!!
Mr. Reid—-Please look at the above e-mail I received from you!!! Is this a joke??? Do you really believe you can fool all the people all of the time? What you have written here is a lie and what Mr. Obama is trying to pull over on the American people is a CRIME!!! How stupid do you think we are??? Now ….as an elected official for the state of Nevada, I demand that you uphold the Constitution or you too will be committing a crime of TREASON!!! Now don’t send me this type of e-mail again until you show me the authentic, original vault copy of Mr. Obama’s birth certificate!!!! What you are telling me to check is not a copy of his original birth. The place you are sending me to has already been checked and everyone knows it is a FRAUD and not what is appropriate evidence to show one is eligible to be President. If you think it is then you have no right representing me in Washington. I would term you to be as stupid as stupid could be!!!! As my state’s Senator I will be waiting for your reply and it better not be the nonsense you just sent OUT!!!! THIS IS
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! DO YOUR JOB THAT WE TAX PAYERS PAY GOOD MONEY FOR!!!!!!
Your constituent and your BOSS,
Jacqlyn xxxxxxx
Henderson, NV 89052
P.S. I can’t believe you expect me to accept this e-mail as true. I will be saving your e-mail as proof that you too are trying to fool the American people by sending out false information!!! You really are an arrogant SOB!!!!
Jacqlyn xxxxxxx
Submitted on 2008/12/30 at 5:20pm”
And now the response my husband got from Mr. Reid and what my husband told him…..My husband is much nicer than ME!!!!!
“From: correspondence_reply@reid.senate.gov [mailto:correspondence_reply@reid.senate.gov]
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 1:36 PM
To: xxxxxxx
Subject: Correspondence from Senator Reid
December 5, 2008
Mr. Patrick xxxxxxx
Henderson, Nevada 89052
Dear Mr. xxxxxxx:
Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing from you.
According to Article I, Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution, any person serving in the United States House of Representatives must have reached the age of twenty-five and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and any person serving in the United States Senate must have reached the age of thirty and must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years. In addition, Article II, Section 1 mandates that a person must have reached the age of thirty-five and be a natural born citizen in order to serve as President of the United States.
As you mentioned, some reports have surfaced that my former colleague, President-Elect Barack Obama, is not a natural-born American citizen. These reports are false. Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. His birth certificate is a matter of public record of the State of Hawai’i and is available online through various news sources, as well as on the Web site for the nonpartisan, nonprofit Annenberg Political Fact Check: http://www.factcheck.org. I hope you find this information useful.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
?
HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada”
Husband’s reply to Reid
“Dear Senator Reid,
Though the question of the authenticity of Senator Obama’s birth certificate is still in question – Sen. Obama has ties to the “non-partisan” factcheck.org” cited in your correspondence – even had he been born in Hawai’i, the federal law at the time would have caused him to have assumed the citizenship of his father. His father was born in Nigeria, a British colony at the time; therefore, Barry was born a British citizen as the USA did not allow dual citizenship in 1961.
One would think that you, with all of your resources and experience, would be aware of this. Perhaps if you were a bit more enlightened and more desirous of the truth rather than political gain, you might try and represent your constituents and put this issue to rest before a grave injustice is done and Barry is sworn in as POTUS.
Once again, I am disappointed in the “Democratic” process that you and your ilk feign to carry out.
Thank you for the form letter response and feel free to re-adjust your blinders.
Citizen WElls 