The Senate Rules Protecting Us From Government Run Medicine

Brian Darling / December 03, 2009

As the Senate gets close to the end of the first week of debate on Obamacare, a controversy swirled today around a letter and memo drafted by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), as linked by Politico, titled “Foundation for Minority Party’s Rights in the Senate.” The memo explains the rules of the Senate and how the minority party can use the rules to insure that a “full, complete, and fully informed debate on all measures and issues coming before the Senate.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took to the Senate floor this morning to complain about the document, but the memo seems to be nothing more than a guide for members to protect their rights during this historic Obamacare debate.

This document is educational and a good way to understand the arcane rules of the United States Senate. The Senate rules are frequently waived by unanimous consent and any member can take to the Senate floor to protect their rights. The Senate has rules for a reason and it seems perfectly reasonable that these rules should be followed when the Senate is attempting to pass a bill that is wildly unpopular with the American people and represents the most dramatic change in health care law in our lifetimes. (more…)