Health Care Reform: Deem and Pass?

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"A day it was on health care reform. With the clock ticking loudly, the Democrats threatened to unleash a rule, rarely used on Capitol Hill..." (ABC)

Democrats in Congress need 216 votes to pass health care reform. But passage on a straight up or down vote seems unlikely. Democrats are reportedly looking into a parliamentary procedure called Deem and Pass.

We're looking at perspectives from ABC, Fox News, The Chicago Tribune and MSNBC.

We start with ABC's John Carl, who explains how the process works.

"The procedure allows members to vote on one bill while automatically deeming -- another is passed. In this case, the House would vote on a fix-it measure, that would make changes to the Senate health care bill. Then, in the process, automatically pass the Senate bill, without actually voting on it."

Fox News' Shepherd Smith says Deem and Pass isn't completely above board.

"It's not unconstitutional. They've done it. I mean, most recently they did it to raise the debt ceiling. Because after all, what Congressman wants his or her signature on raising the debt ceiling of the United States. So you have to do it. So it's a cop out. So again here -- it's a cop out."

But in an op-ed entitled: "Who put the demon in deem and pass" Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn says there's nothing wrong with it, because it gives members of Congress the protection to cast the right vote.

"Using 'deem and pass' allows House Dems to vote on what they actually approve of and what will likely be enacted. So tell me what's wrong with that?"

On MSNBC's Morning Joe the discussion turned to what appears to be politicians playing insider baseball. While Congress knows the term deem and pass most Americans don't. And that sounds fishy.

"I mean, you use the term deem and pass. Pass and deem. Reconciliation. All of these garbage words -- that people wonder -- what's going on? The opt out -- the opt in. And the idea is -- are you for it -- or are you against it?"

So what do you think? Is Deem and Pass a viable way to pass health care? Or is it a dishonest tactic used by Congress to circumvent a clear-cut vote?

Writer: Newsy Staff

Producer: Nathan Giannini

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Health Care Reform: Deem and Pass?

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