I’ve been following the debate about process when it comes to passing health care legislation. And the Republican logic on view in this debate has got me totally confused. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
Here’s my confusion. In one part of our national legislature, the House, the Democrats can’t seem to pass a health care measure they want, so they are likely to use a gimmick called “deem and pass” to do the job. And the Republicans are furious because they want a simple up or down vote on the measure because that’s the way a democracy is supposed to work.
I got that. It makes sense. But…
In the other part of this same national legislature, the Senate, the Republicans are preventing passage of all kinds of legislation they don’t want, including a health care measure, using a gimmick called “filibuster” to do the job. This Republican usage prevents a simple up or down vote that is the way a democracy is supposed to work — according to Republicans in the House.
Now I’ve heard of people (and political parties) talking out of both sides of their mouth. But I’ve never seen the trick attempted at the same time with regard to the same issue, and the two-sided mouth speaker not getting called on it big time.
Someone please explain….