President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress will not be doing the country, their party or themselves any good trying to ram through a health care reform bill few Americans want.
Late last year, the House of Representatives passed a reform bill by a slim, five-vote margin. Later, on Christmas Eve, the Senate passed its own version with Democrats garnering exactly the 60 votes ... needed to block a Republican filibuster. ...
Now Democrats say they may use a procedure called "reconciliation" -- one they attacked as unconstitutional when Republicans last attempted it -- to ram health care reform through Congress. ...
Reconciliation was designed to be used on budget and tax measures. And indeed, Republicans have used it themselves. But never has reconciliation been used on so sweeping a measure as this one that would change the way all Americans receive and pay for their medical care.
Americans do not want the health care plan the Democrats are selling. They want more emphasis on reducing health costs and reducing the overall deficit before any attempt is made to expand coverage.
But some Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have determined that we will have it anyway. It will be good for us, they promise.
The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
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