Florida's accidental juinor Senator, George LeMieux, issued out a statement and video press release last night condemning President Obama, after the commander in chief yesterday urged Congress to "finish its work" on health care and, though he did say so explicitly, gave his endorsement of the parliamentary procedure known as reconciliation in the Senate, meaning the legislation would require just 51 votes, and not a filibuster proof 60 as has become the case in recent decades.
LeMieux used all the buzzwords that Republicans have been saying of late: That the President is "jamming" the bill through, though obviously the Democrats (despite what you may have heard) still have strong majorities in the House and Senate.
Obama said yesterday that he needs the public, specifically those who support health care reform but have been content to complain about how imperfect the bills in Congress are right now, to support it big time:
I will do everything in my power to make the case for reform. And I urge every American who wants this reform to make their voice heard as well—every family, every business, every patient, every doctor, every nurse, every physician’s assistant. Make your voice heard.
Republicans are planning on adding mega amendments to the Senate floor to try to stall the legislation. And yesterday Tennessee GOP Senator Lamar Alexander said that if and when Democrats use reconciliation in the Senate it will spark an “instant movement to repeal the law.”
Republicans are also planning to throw as much dirt as possible to sully the Dems' chances as well. Yesterday Politico reported that the GOP is trying to cast aspersions on the Senate Parliamentarian who will be the person with the power to decide if the Senate health care bill passes muster to be considered eligible to go through reconciliation, Alan Frumin.
The reconciliation process has been used — by members of both parties — 22 times since 1974. But Republicans say that if Frumin allows Democrats to push through health care reform using reconciliation, he’ll experience a personal backlash and the Republicans will bring the Senate to a halt with procedural maneuvers of their own.
Meanwhile, Orlando area Democratic firebrand Alan Grayson debated Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann last night on Larry King Live. The GOP Representative made headlines when she called for an "independent investigation" into President Obama nominating the brother of a Congressman for a federal judgeship, while at the same time lobbying that's judge's brother for his health care vote.
A big question that has to be addressed right now, Larry, is what in the world is going on in the White House? Because today, the president offered a judgeship to the brother of a member of Congress. Tonight, the president has that same member of Congress at the White House pressuring him to change his vote on health care. We really need to have an independent investigation into this matter. Because we've seen the Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, the union loophole and now the big question is, is the White House trading health care votes for judgeships? This is a pretty serious issue, Larry.
Bachmann received her talking points from a story that was posted on the Weekly Standard's Web site last night a few hours before her appearance on CNN (that headline that is at the top of the Drudge Report this morning).
The White House and Representative Jim Matheson deny the allegations. Meanwhile, Matheson's brother who is up for the Federal Judgeship is Scott Matheson. Of Matheson, GOP Utah Senator Orrin Hatch calls him "a bright attorney whose experience has prepared him for judicial service."
This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2010.
