House Procedures on Health Care Vote "OK"

House Procedures “OK” According to League of Women Voters
Objections “Disingenuous”

Washington, DC - The League of Women Voters of the United States today called the planned procedures to pass health care reform legislation in the House of Representatives “OK.”

The House Leadership has tentatively announced plans to adopt comprehensive health care reform legislation by a “deem and pass” procedure that would allow the House of Representatives to simultaneously pass both the Senate’s health care legislation and corrective measures in a reconciliation bill with one vote.  Those who have opposed health care reform from the beginning are attacking the procedure.   

“As a nonpartisan citizen organization that has worked for 90 years to improve government procedures, educate the electorate, and make government at all levels more accessible and responsive to citizens, we are deeply concerned that opponents of health care reform have adopted a strategy of fear, delay and obfuscation,” said Mary G. Wilson, president of the national League of Women Voters. 

“It is disingenuous to criticize the use of parliamentary procedures that have been employed for decades by the leadership of both parties.  This distracts from the real issue, which is health care reform,” according to Wilson.

“The Constitution is very clear that the House of Representatives can adopt its own procedures for passing this kind of legislation,” said Wilson, referring to Article I, Section 5.

“All the arguing by the pundits, partisans and politicians who oppose reform can’t change the fact that Congress decides on the procedures for passing a bill.  That is as the Founders intended when they created our representative, constitutional democracy,” Wilson concluded.

Reporters may contact Kelly Ceballos ([email protected] or 202-263-1331) to set up media interviews with President Mary Wilson.

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The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.