"Deem and Pass" - DEAD!

by: Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie

Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 19:06:32 PM EDT

House Democrats on Saturday decided against using a controversial tactic to pass the Senate's version of the health care bill without an actual vote.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD., said he believes Democrats have enough votes to pass the legislation.

The decision capped an ongoing discussion on whether to use a so-called "deem and pass" strategy that would allow House members to approve the Senate version of health care bill without an actual vote before taking up a second "fix-it" resolution, known as reconciliation.

In addition, House Republican Leader John Boehner has announced he will call for a formal roll call of the votes.  This will force each member to publicly announce their vote on the House floor.

"This weekend's votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress," Boehner says in the letter to Speaker Pelosi. "As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made."

Leader Boehner Delivers Weekly GOP Address on Health Care BELOW THE FOLD....