HATCH FAILS TO KEEP UP ON CURRENT EVENTS…. In August, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) launched a variety of patently false attacks against Democratic health care reform proposals. He was promptly rewarded with an appearance on “Meet the Press,” where he deliberately misled the public.
This week, Hatch launched a new round of patently false attacks against Democratic health care reform proposals, and was once again promptly rewarded with another appearance on “Meet the Press.” And wouldn’t you know it….
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is warning that Democrats are playing with fire by attempting to pass health care legislation using the Senate’s reconciliation rules and without bipartisan support.
“To do this is just very, very dangerous,” Hatch said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday. “It’s going to cause an awful lot of problems.”
A feisty Hatch said the health care overhaul is unlike other measures passed by reconciliation, including children’s health care legislation he co-sponsored with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)
“We’re talking about the first time in history sweeping social legislation will be passed, if [Democrats] get their way, by a totally partisan vote,” Hatch said.
Let me try to explain this in a way even Hatch can understand.
1. Democrats aren’t trying to pass health care legislation using the Senate’s reconciliation rules. Reconciliation would be used for a budget fix, which is why reconciliation exists.
2. “Sweeping” social legislation has already passed on “a totally partisan vote.” If Democrats “get their way”? Democrats already got their way — health care reform passed the Senate on a 60-to-39 vote in December, with zero GOP votes. Hatch was there; he should probably remember. It was “a totally partisan vote” because Republicans refused to negotiate in good faith, and rejected ideas they claimed to support.
3. Hatch supported reconciliation many times, on legislation large and small, including bills related to health care. His incessant whining on the subject is disingenuous and demonstrably false.
Hatch isn’t some rookie; he’s been in the Senate nearly as long as I’ve been alive. And yet, he can’t seem to bring himself to even try to tell the truth about the basics, a habit that seems to get him more appearances on national television, instead of fewer.
The mind reels.
