Pence Weighs In on "Deem and Pass"

Pence Weighs In on "Deem and Pass"

The Health Care reform debate continues on Capitol Hill. In a controversial move, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrat party members are considering an option known as "deem and pass". It is also referred to as "the Slaughter rule", named for New York Congresswoman, Louise Slaughter. Under this option, the House of Representatives would vote only once on the reconciliation language in the Senate bill for items such as abortion funding, but not on the underlying Senate bill itself. If those reconciliation corrections pass, the rule would say that the Senate bill is approved by the House, with no formal up-or-down vote on the actual Senate bill.

Republicans, including Congressman Mike Pence, say the plan is nothing but an unconstitutional power-grab and government seizure of nearly one-sixth of the American economy. Pence agrees that reforms need to take place, but the Senate bill is too much. He is urging fellow House members to block, or vote down this legislation.