# Is the Health Care bill going to pass today? (March 21st) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 21, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261 "2010-03-21T19:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/41 "2010-03-22T02:07:21Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The executive order has no teeth - and if it did it would be unconstitutional as far as I can tell. The President can’t just override part of a bill he doesn’t like - that would be the equivalent of a line-item veto, a power which congress has refused to give the president. The executive order isn’t overriding anything. The bill already forbids spending federal money on abortions. The Stupak crowd just needed a hand job for the happy ending. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/42 "2010-03-22T02:08:48Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The executive order has no teeth - and if it did it would be unconstitutional as far as I can tell. The President can’t just override part of a bill he doesn’t like - that would be the equivalent of a line-item veto, a power which congress has refused to give the president. > > It’s a smokescreen - an attempt to deflect blame and provide cover while actually doing nothing, to enable Stupak to mislead his constituents into believing that he truly fought for them and got concessions. > > And this from the ‘transparency president’. Hope and Change rides again. Did you read the thread? The executive order isn’t trying to over-ride part of the bill, its just reiterating that the executive branch will follow it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/43 "2010-03-22T02:17:57Z")
Which is why I said it has no teeth. I’m not saying the order IS unconstitutional - I’m saying that it WOULD be unconstitutional if it actually did what they were claiming it will do, which is to answer Stupak’s concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/44 "2010-03-22T02:19:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’m suspicious of this-post midnight voting is NEVER good for the taxpayers. > My guess is: it will pas, by adding riders to the bill (exempting unions, state government workers, federal employees, congress). > Beware! And just how did you feel about this particular vote, that was passed at 3:00 AM, starting on a Sunday, but lasting until the next morning? And as been mentioned, they can’t add any riders or amendments to it. And why would they want to exempt a bunch of people that would not be affected by the bill? All of those people already have insurance and would not have to worry about getting it. > [@elucidator](#): > > Ramming, cramming, jamming, thrusting this down America’s throat in the middle of the night?! The Pubbies are, of course, poised for oral arguments, and will not swallow this easily. Some adjustments must be made so the Congress doesn’t choke on this. You can expect their leader to leap to his feet at once, enraged, an erect and swollen Boehner… I misread your name when I started reading your post. I say it as starting with an e and ending with ator, but the middle was jacul, rather than lucid. Made your post an even more compelling image. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/45 "2010-03-22T02:20:02Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > It may be that the executive order is purely so Stupak et al. can claim they won something, but what does that have to do with transparency? I think you got your talking point cards mixed up. The President signs a completely meaningless executive order, for the sole purpose of allowing Representative Stupak to go home to his constituents and try to tell them that he voted for it after the President bowed to his constituent’s wishes. Yes, that’s the very model of transparent, honest government. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/46 "2010-03-22T02:25:44Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Which is why I said it has no teeth. I’m not saying the order IS unconstitutional - I’m saying that it WOULD be unconstitutional if it actually did what they were claiming it will do, which is to answer Stupak’s concerns. Ah sorry, I misread your post. But I agree with **Richard** that the link to gov’t transparency is a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/47 "2010-03-22T02:27:19Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The President signs a completely meaningless executive order, for the sole purpose of allowing Representative Stupak to go home to his constituents and try to tell them that he voted for it after the President bowed to his constituent’s wishes. > > Yes, that’s the very model of transparent, honest government. Well, ya saw through it! To the OP title- yes. Congrats to the Dems. I hope it succeeds & doesn’t become yet another Federal boondoggle. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/48 "2010-03-22T02:29:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, that’s the very model of transparent, honest government. Well, it’s been all over the news. I guess the cover-up failed. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/49 "2010-03-22T02:30:19Z")
What, is Obama claiming that he’s signing that executive order for any reason other than placating Stupak and his contingent? Is he hiding the fact that he’s signing it? Is the text of the order going to be classified? What’s not transparent about it? ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/50 "2010-03-22T02:41:43Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The President signs a completely meaningless executive order, for the sole purpose of allowing Representative Stupak to go home to his constituents and try to tell them that he voted for it after the President bowed to his constituent’s wishes. > > Yes, that’s the very model of transparent, honest government. **Sam** , it sounds like your problem is with Senator Stupak, not President Obama. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/51 "2010-03-22T02:45:37Z")
The bill just passed. Sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/52 "2010-03-22T02:46:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, that’s the very model of transparent, honest government. I do not think that word means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/53 "2010-03-22T02:47:09Z")
Thank goodness. Not a great bill, not by a long shot, but it’s better than not passing anything, and the Dems needed the win. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/54 "2010-03-22T02:47:58Z")
Whew! What a nail biter. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/55 "2010-03-22T02:49:44Z")
Don’t dance too soon. There’s still another vote. Still need to have the vote on the motion to recommit. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/56 "2010-03-22T03:01:39Z")
Stupak smackdown of Republican heel dragging. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/57 "2010-03-22T03:03:13Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Don’t dance too soon. There’s still another vote. Still need to have the vote on the motion to recommit. Which is, and means, what exactly? If it fails, what exactly happens? If it passes, what exactly happens? I’ve been confused about this for a while, especially since this is the first time I’d ever heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/58 "2010-03-22T03:07:31Z")
If anyone were going to change the vote, they would have done so. The cast is died. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/59 "2010-03-22T03:07:35Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Which is, and means, what exactly? If it fails, what exactly happens? If it passes, what exactly happens? I’ve been confused about this for a while, especially since this is the first time I’d ever heard of it. If it passes, they will vote on a House bill that will reconcile with the Senate bill. (Both houses have to pass an identical bill to send it to the President for signature.) The failure of either will kill the legislation. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261/60 "2010-03-22T03:08:25Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Which is, and means, what exactly? If it fails, what exactly happens? If it passes, what exactly happens? I’ve been confused about this for a while, especially since this is the first time I’d ever heard of it. It’s a rule that allows the minority party to amend the bill before it passes or to kill the bill entirely. In this case Republicans are claiming to amend the bill with pro-life language that will never be approved by the senate. They are trying to spook the pro-life democrats into voting for the stronger pro-life language. If pro-life democrats vote against it they can be branded as weak on pro-life legislation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-health-care-bill-going-to-pass-today-march-21st/533261.md?page=4)