“Slaughter Solution”: Speaker Pelosi Embraces “Unseemly,” “Controversial,” “Dodgy,” and “Dicey” “Legislative Sleight of Hand”

From Republican Leader John Boehner:

“Slaughter Solution”: Speaker Pelosi Embraces “Unseemly,” “Controversial,” “Dodgy,” and “Dicey” “Legislative Sleight of Hand”

Editorial Boards Slam Toxic Concoction

Washington, Mar 16 -As if a government takeover of health care was not controversial enough already, Democrats are looking to add fuel to the fire of America’s disgust by passing the plan without an actual “vote.”

It’s bad enough to overturn the will of the people by passing a government takeover of health care that is overwhelmingly rejected by Americans.  But the so-called “Slaughter Solution” – passing the massive Senate bill without an up or down vote – takes shame to a whole new level.

[U]sing such a dicey procedure to enact President Barack Obama’s biggest domestic initiative — the most far-reaching social policy change in decades — could inflame a public that’s already annoyed at the legislation’s tortured path and disgusted with Congress.” (McClatchy, 3/16/10)

Any member of Congress who believes in the Democrats’ health care plan – one that raises taxes $500 billion, slashes Medicare by another $500 billion, forces taxpayers to fund abortions, and gives bureaucrats power to make medical decisions – should be willing to stand up and be counted.  And editorial boards across the country have begun to speak out about the “disgusting process”:

“That may help some House members dodge a politically difficult decision, but it strikes us as a dodgy way to reform the health-care system. Democrats who vote for the package will be tagged with supporting the Senate bill in any event. Why not be straightforward about it?” (Washington Post Editorial, 3/16/10)

“Democrats are, literally, consuming their own majority for the sake of imposing new taxes, regulations and entitlements that the public has roundly rejected but that they believe will be the crowning achievement of the welfare state. They are also leaving behind a procedural bloody trail that will fuel public fury and make such a vast change of law seem illegitimate to millions of Americans.” (Wall Street Journal Editorial, 3/16/10)

“This disgusting process, which Democrats brazenly wish to bring to conclusion this week, is being done with little regard for the opinions of a clear majority of Americans who, while they may believe health care reform is necessary, think this particular approach will take our nation down the wrong economic path.” (Cincinnati Enquire Editorial, 3/16/10)

Yet the Slaughter Solution seems to be the play of the day for Democrats leaders who will do anything to get a government takeover of health care. And of all people, this all should come as a disappointment to President Obama, who made greater transparency and accountability a cornerstone of his new presidency.  Despite that pledge, he once again took to the podium yesterday to call on Democrats to vote yes.  His message was simple:

“We need courage… That’s what we need.  That’s why I came here today.  We need courage.  We need courage.” (President Obama, Strongsville, OH, 3/15/10)

But rather than demonstrating any “courage” whatsoever, senior Democrats are preparing their “controversial procedure” to pass the infamous Senate health care bill (political payoffs and all) without the usual up or down vote that Americans would expect – and frankly demand – with such a sweeping proposal.

But it’s going to take more than a little smoke and mirrors from the Speaker to pull one over the eyes of the American people. At the end of the day, a vote for the “Slaughter Solution” is all at once a vote for a government takeover of health care and for the Washington games that Americans are so tired of.