Standard Mischief

If I listen to my own inner “healthy” sense of paranoia, I’d have to come to the conclusion that Congress-critter John Fleming must be playing the part of the “designated opposition” in the carefully crafted “medicine show” to sell us all on ObamaCare.

The Honourable Representative from Louisiana’s 4th District has the following to say in an article in the online version of the New York Post:

“So I’ve offered a bill, HR 615, to give them a chance to put their “health” where their mouth is:…”

However, if you go looking up on Govtrack.org for the “bill”, don’t search for “HR 615″ or you’ll get the “Antifreeze Bittering Act of 2009″. Instead search for “H Res 615″, at which time you likely conclude that this is a non-binding resolution, rather than a proposed law. Here’s the highlight:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, Federal Government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll under that public option.

(Emphasis mine.)

That’s some strong language there for a non-binding resolution!

So, will the real opponents to Obama-ized healthcare please stand up? I know the socialist faction is going to pull every single trick in the book. I’d like you to respond in kind with the usual standard mischief; including obfuscated language, last minute riders to “must-pass” legislation, keeping the actual text of the bill out of Thomas.gov until after it’s been voted on, having anonymous “staffers” secretly editing text without anyone noticing, killing things in committee, and the always effective “poison pill” amendment.