Toward the end of a long day in Washington, House Republicans just tried to block the bill by recommitting it to committee for adjustments. The vote just ended and the movement failed. I think they’re finally voting on the actual bill now. The number of votes required to reach the actual vote on the bill is incredible.
I spent a few hours today listening to the droning in the House as I caught up on some schoolwork. “Debate” is hardly the correct word to describe the events of today. For hours on end, members of the House gave statements back and forth about reasons to support or oppose the healthcare legislation. Aside from two (at that time) pending amendments, the bill was more or less set, making the day’s remarks more position taking by representatives than constructive debate.
All day Democrats repeated the urgency of the healthcare situation in this country while Republicans blasted it as a big government takeover. All day politicians talked past each other rather than talking to each other about anything of practical significance.
As I am typing the voting is nearing its end. The bill has passed in the House by a slim margin of 220-215, with one Republican voting in favor and 34 Democrats voting No. As noted earlier, healthcare reform is a long ways away from being passed, and years away from being completely implemented, if passed.
One step closer to reform, but one would wish that the political process we have wasn’t so dependent on superficial appearances. I have a new respect for those responsible for watching CSPAN as a living. Painful.
