Comments on: Health Reform: Urgency and Patience http://themoderatevoice.com/39618/health-reform-urgency-and-patience/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:08:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: GeorgeSorwell http://themoderatevoice.com/39618/health-reform-urgency-and-patience/comment-page-1/#comment-194853 GeorgeSorwell Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:13:13 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=39618#comment-194853 This quote is from a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/us/politics/19cong.html?hp" rel="nofollow">review of books</a> about Democratic Representative Henry Waxman and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:<br><blockquote>But among the most telling references in the book was the pride Mr. McConnell took in his realization in September 1994 that he could mount filibusters against routine procedural motions required before House-Senate legislative negotiations could begin. As a result, he effectively ran out the clock that session on the campaign finance overhaul he was to fight for years.<br><br>“It dawned on me that it is pretty important and certainly useful to learn as much about the procedure as you can, because frequently procedure is policy,” Mr. McConnell said in an interview about the book, which he cooperated in producing.<br><br>No one had filibustered such minor actions in the past, but it has become a hallmark of Mr. McConnell to try to make the Senate rules work for him. Republicans now routinely draw out debate on what used to be formalities, in order to exert what Mr. McConnell would describe as leverage to “shape” objectionable measures.</blockquote> This quote is from a review of books about Democratic Representative Henry Waxman and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:
But among the most telling references in the book was the pride Mr. McConnell took in his realization in September 1994 that he could mount filibusters against routine procedural motions required before House-Senate legislative negotiations could begin. As a result, he effectively ran out the clock that session on the campaign finance overhaul he was to fight for years.

“It dawned on me that it is pretty important and certainly useful to learn as much about the procedure as you can, because frequently procedure is policy,” Mr. McConnell said in an interview about the book, which he cooperated in producing.

No one had filibustered such minor actions in the past, but it has become a hallmark of Mr. McConnell to try to make the Senate rules work for him. Republicans now routinely draw out debate on what used to be formalities, in order to exert what Mr. McConnell would describe as leverage to “shape” objectionable measures.

]]> By: Pete Abel http://themoderatevoice.com/39618/health-reform-urgency-and-patience/comment-page-1/#comment-194848 Pete Abel Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:08:07 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=39618#comment-194848 George -- In answer to your first question, "No." In answer to your second, "Yes," but I'm not convinced that deadlines has to be before the August recess. What's more, if they (Congress and the Administration) are serious about the importance of this bill -- wh ich I think they are -- they could always cancel the August recess. George — In answer to your first question, “No.” In answer to your second, “Yes,” but I'm not convinced that deadlines has to be before the August recess. What's more, if they (Congress and the Administration) are serious about the importance of this bill — wh ich I think they are — they could always cancel the August recess.

]]> By: GeorgeSorwell http://themoderatevoice.com/39618/health-reform-urgency-and-patience/comment-page-1/#comment-194820 GeorgeSorwell Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:24:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=39618#comment-194820 Do you think everyone is working toward this worthy goal in good faith? <br><br>Do you favor any deadline? Do you think everyone is working toward this worthy goal in good faith?

Do you favor any deadline?

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