NTU urges all Representatives to vote “NO” on any rule for consideration of health care legislation that allows the House to “deem as passed” H.R. 3590, the Senate version of health care reform legislation, without holding a roll call vote.
Supporting this procedural sleight of hand is tantamount to a vote in favor of the Senate’s bill, which NTU vehemently opposed because of its enormous tax hikes, inclusion of an “individual mandate,” and mounds of restrictive regulations. This $2.5 trillion bill is NOT real reform, but rather a political ploy to deceive taxpayers and to expand the size and scope of the federal government in a way that is both unprecedented and unsustainable. Utilizing a shady procedural maneuver to pass this behemoth violates the spirit (if not the letter) of the Constitution and should be rejected by advocates and opponents of the bill alike.
Further, should the House succeed in passing the Senate legislation, whether through deception or a real floor vote, NTU urges all Representatives to vote “NO” on H.R. 4872, the subsequent reconciliation package on health care reform. While Congressional leaders scheme behind closed doors about the details of such an effort, the fact remains that a reconciliation package is nothing more than an attempt to apply lipstick to one of the ugliest (and most expensive) pigs Congress has produced in years.
Roll call votes on a "deem and pass" rule as well as on H.R. 4872, the reconciliation bill, will be among the most heavily weighted of the year in our annual Rating of Congress.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan at (703) 683-5700.