By a vote of 240-179, the House of Representatives passed a resolution of disapproval for Joe Wilson’s rude outburst on the floor of the House last week. Which is both good and bad.
Good, because Joe Wilson deserved it. But bad, because it should have been 434-1.
The fact that it wasn’t says more about the Republican Party than it does about Joe Wilson. Because, once again, Republicans have let the rudest, crudest, most unruly of their members represent their party.
There are no moderates left in the Republican Party today. At least, none who will speak out or stand up. Instead, the Republican Party today is defined by:
- Tea baggers who call President Obama a socialist and traitor
- Talk show hosts who call him a racist
- Town hall crazies who won’t let anyone else speak
- Phony protestors who carry racially-charged anti-Obama signs
- Gun nuts who show up – armed – at presidential events
- And Joe Wilson who calls the president a liar, violating long-standing rules of the House, and then refuses to apologize to his fellow House members.
The way it looks today, they should rename it the “Ugly Party.”
If I were a Republican, I’d be embarrassed.
That’s my parting shot for today.
[...] Bill’s Blog: If I were a Republican, I’d be embarrassed [...]
keep up the good work bill.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CHOICES ACT
Approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & PensionsJuly 15, 2009.
After more than a month of committee mark-up in which over 160 Republican amendments were accepted, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) approved the Affordable Health Choices Act. This legislation lays the foundation for comprehensive national health reform. Our bill, combined with the work being done by the Senate Finance Committee, will make health care affordable and available to all Americans. Fully 97 percent of Americans will have coverage, a major achievement.
The following pages provide a brief overview of the major elements of the legislation. For a longer summary, please visit: http://help.senate.gov/Maj_press/2009_07_15_b.pdf.
This brief summary outlines the key features of the legislation:
? Guaranteeing quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans.
? Making coverage fairer and more comprehensive.
? Protecting Americans against ruinous medical costs.
? Giving immediate assistance to retirees to help with the high cost of coverage.
? Providing an immediate benefit for evidence-based preventive services.
? Creating a new voluntary insurance program for long term services and supports.
? Transforming health quality through delivery system reform.
? Improving the health of all Americans through prevention and wellness.
? Building a health care workforce to meet the needs of the 21st century.
? Fighting health care fraud and abuse.
? Improving access to innovative medical therapies.