Rohrabacher’s deal ( medicare)

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May 19, 2004

EDITORIAL

http://www.hillnews.com/editorial/051904.aspx
Rohrabacher’s deal

The way the GOP leaders in the House are keeping their side of a deal with Rep. Dana Roh-rabacher (R-Calif.) reveals how much they wish to avoid debating the Medicare prescription-drug bill again. This is not to be wondered at; last year’s landmark legislation passed by the skin of its teeth; it did so only after the vote was kept open for nearly three hours rather than the customary 15 minutes; and it has not worked noticeably to the Republicans’ advantage on the campaign trail.

Rohrabacher withdrew his support for the bill when a Senate provision was added in conference that would pay $1 billion over four years to hospitals that treated illegal immigrants. The congressman argued that this was an improper use of resources and he agreed to vote for the bill only if he was given a vote on his own bill requiring hospitals to report suspected illegal immigrants and to take their pictures and fingerprints.

Well, as The Hill’s Klaus Marre reported yesterday, the congressman got his vote, but only under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The deal with Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is that if he gets a bare majority — two-thirds is out of the question, given Democratic opposition tot he bill — then he can come back for an up or down vote in which a bare majority will suffice. The arrangement, with which Rohrabacher is unconvincingly said by his spokesman to be “very pleased,” forces him to win majorities twice.