US Senate Passes Obama health bill

[dtewi]

Khuutra said:

mrstickball said:

Khuutra said:

The Senate bill was adopted by 60 votes to 39, with senators voting along party lines.

This infuriates me more than is strictly healthy

And the worst part of it is that some of those that voted for it were paid off with special programs for their state.

Healthcare reform began in Arpil. It has been nearly nine months. There has been adequate debate. Perhaps the debate would have been more constructive had Republicans been willing to negotiate rather than obstruct. Anyway, it is disingenuous to feign shock and outrage about the legislative process and the implications this bill will have for it. This behavior is de rigueur for Congress; it always has been and always will be.

If the debate was enough, then how did we end up with this abomination of a bill? The Republicans tried to negotiate by offering alternate plans. The administration did not want them.

I have no illusions that senators were probably bribed on both sides, that isn't the issue at hand

The party lines being that clearly divided in this vote means that senators feel all right just toting the party line instead of voting according to their consciences. That's not good enough.

Isn't that the case in mostly every bill brought forth?