Hoffman: 'Deem and pass' is a scam
Doug Hoffman, a Lake Placid accountant running for the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties nomination in the 23rd Congressional District, blasted House Democratic leadership for considering a "deem and pass" maneuver on Sunday's health care bill vote.
"The deem and pass vote being pushed by Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership is nothing more than a scam being perpetrated on the American people," said Mr. Hoffman in a statement. "The Democrats know that the health care proposal is incredibly unpopular with the voters and they will do everything in their power to protect House members like Bill Owens from being held accountable for his vote in next November's mid-term elections."
Don't understand parlimentary procedure? The Washington Post explains:
While Mr. Hoffman said the procedure allows the proposal to go through without a roll call vote, President Obama told Fox News Wednesday: "If people vote yes, whatever form that takes, that is going to be a vote for health-care reform. And I don't think we should pretend otherwise."
The Washington Post adds: "Democrats haven't officially confirmed that they will use the strategy to move the health-care bill, but they have spent significant time this week defending the practice."
Mr. Hoffman called on Mr. Owens to oppose the so-called "deem and pass" proposal, but that moment has passed.
Again, to the Washington Post:
Mr. Owens voted for the previous question - or against giving Republicans a chance to offer their own rule.
The congressman then voted with the majority to table House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's resolution which stated "that the House disapproves of the malfeasant manner in which the Democratic Leadership has thereby discharged the duties of their offices."
Here's Mr. Hoffman's statement in full:
Voters Want Transparency and Accountability in Washington
Doug Hoffman, the conservative Republican candidate for Congress (NY-23), today called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership to give the American people a "yay or nay" vote on the healthcare proposal under consideration. Hoffman, an Essex County CPA and small businessman characterized Sunday's vote as "a cynical quest to ram this unpopular legislation down the throat of the American people."
Doug Hoffman said, "On Sunday, Congress is scheduled to vote on healthcare using the parliamentary procedure known as "deem and pass". This procedure will allow the Democrats to push passage of the healthcare proposal through the House without recording a roll call vote from its members.
"The deem and pass vote being pushed by Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership is nothing more than a scam being perpetrated on the American people. The Democrats know that the healthcare proposal is incredibly unpopular with the voters and they will do everything in their power to protect House members like Bill Owens from being held accountable for his vote in next November's mid-term elections.
"If we have learned anything over the last year, it's that the Americans are thirsting for transparency and accountability in Washington. Unfortunately, Bill Owens, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are ignoring these cornerstones of democracy in their cynical quest to ram this unpopular legislation down the throats of the American people.
"I call on my opponent Bill Owens to speak up and oppose the so-called "deem and pass" proposal and join me in calling for a straight up and down vote. Now is the time for citizens of New York's 23rd Congressional District to call the offices of Speaker Pelosi and Bill Owens to let them know that we deserve openness and transparency in the healthcare debate, not backroom deals and hidden votes."
