On the recordMarch 16, 2010
Since the founding of this great country, representatives of the people have come to this floor, this Chamber, to debate legislation and either vote for it or against it. If you support legislation, stand up and support it. If you are opposed to it, stand up and oppose it. But today's Washington Post says that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the health care bill without having Members vote on it. Instead, she would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular piece of legislation, but under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers 'deem' the health care bill to be passed. Speaker Pelosi added that she prefers this tactic because it would politically protect lawmakers who are reluctant to publicly support the health care bill. She says, 'It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know, but I like it because people don't have to vote on the health care bill.'
