Rep. Alan Grayson: Republicans Are Using the Filibuster Rule to Disable the Government

[Tritonnl]

What a scum bag.

[mef75baby]

Democrats need to fight fire with fire! Send all bills that are threatened with a filibuster through reconciliation. I'm sure the Republicans will throw of fit of false outrage like they always do about how this is so undemocratic and how Dem's shouldn't be allowed to do this lol. The Dem's can then tell them we will stop with the reconciliation when you stop with the filibuster! Fight one extreme with another extreme!!!

[abiggerdog]

the Republicans themselves gutted the fillibuster rule when under W Bush they threatened to eliminate it because Democrats were using it to block judicial appointees they didn't like.

A rule only for stopping a Democratic majority ... that's what the fillibuster rule is.  It's ONLY a rule to stop Democrats, when the Republicans get stopped, they threaten to abolish it.

Make it a rule for all, or nobody. Put it in the Constitution, or abolish it.

[RobertGuido]

Though the Dems have enough seats to pass reform why are they complaining about the Republicans. Grayson is off his rocker. Bla bla Repulicans fault Hey Dems go vote already..opps thats right you cannoy get your own congress members to agree Dems=Fail.

[thesparitan]

thats very stupid. maybe you should read more about our government. the only why to get anything passed is the supermajority 60 votes.

this has never happened in the history of the united states, its wrong, its anti-amercan. if you support the republicans you are anti-american.

[RobertGuido]

@thesparitan MAYBE YOU SHOULD CHECK THE DATE!!! This messege I wroter was before the majority was broken by the Republicans. I am all American and the people have spoken no socialisism, progressivism or any of that. but yet I do not expect you to be able to read or anythinng.

[stophypocrisy]

Rep. Alan Grayson is the man willing to put his life on the line for Americans. I think there are only 3 Congress persons that has this courage, the rest are just worthless memes. Americans that understands the FED is looting Americans and is Americas down fall have your back Mr. Grayson, but beware of this most corrupt crime organization called the Federal Reserve. They have a shady past and I dont trust them. Every time you grill Ben his voice cracks and he sounds like he going to cry

[ApopkaDave]

With the economy in its current situation, all this bill is likely to do is ad expense to the healthy poor, so a few more of them can be foreclosed on and made homeless. But at least then they'll probably qualify for free coverage, thanks Rep. Grayson. I've from FL, and beg you to continue your efforts to AUDIT THE FED!!!

[callouschristian]

Grayson, ray of hope.

In the words of MJ the Great:

"Don't stop til you get enough", Honorable Grayson!!!!

[Andrarch]

lol go grayson

[TheMetalPerson]

When the government subsidizes anything, the price goes up, not down.

[aunicornist]

The public option is payed with premiums, not subsidies.

[TheMetalPerson]

its a subsidy in the sense that people would be forced to get it. Its not a subsidy for the patients but for the health care industry.

[aunicornist]

That, to me is why the public option is vital. So much has already been conceded to the corporatists who want nothing but to help the health care industry that is paying them. Without the public option, all the bill would do is fill up the pockets of the insurance companies with no incentive whatsoever for them to lower their prices.

[BigMrFirebird]

A debate to allow a debate? It's a total joke! Get the job done and run the blue dogs outta town back to their corporate masters.

[JayPhilosopher]

Excellent points. Thank you, Congressman Grayson. I have already signed your petition and hope that many others will.

[captcrais101]

actually the main problem is those dam ccorporate controlled democrats like Blanche Lincoln.

[jopaddy81]

I love this guy.

[ccf22p]

Liberals ruined the dollar?????

You don't fool a soul with your lies. Borrowing money for two wars and trillion dollar tax cuts for the rich killed the dollar.

Remember, Clinton gave us a surplus, Bush fucked us.

Jobless rates fell drastically and home sales and home prices are up.

Repubs getting scared that Obama will turn the country in the right direction. Liberals knew he would....it always takes a Democrat to fix the problems.

[TheMetalPerson]

How is Obama any better than bush? He has continuously been pushing to add more troops and expand our front into Iran. He just just another crook. Look who is in his cabinet.

Geithner and Summers? Bernanke renominated? This is the old team repackaged under black skin. same old war mongering crooks who have been destroying the dollar under bush.

Democrats can't fix our problems nor can republicans. This is going to hurt.... a lot...

[MikePresents2]

The only thing wrong with health care is that it's too expensive.

It's too expensive because our money is next to worthless.

We need economic reform, NOT health care reform.

Health care costs are just a symptom of an economic problem.

[wowamonn]

Parrot.

[captcrais101]

we need both reforms

[Steve197201]

MikePresents2,

Thank you for bringing some sanity and perspective to the health care debate. I agree with you. If healthcare was less expensive, we wouldn't have 50 million uninsured people (or it wouldn't matter so much if we did).

What often gets lost in this issue is that high health care costs are a symptom of a much larger problem. That's the pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. Until we tackle that beast, nothing's going to change for the better.

[marniespeaks]

hero

[Garyscott7]

waaaaaaaaaaaaa, I'm so scared. Govenment please save me. Hurry up- change the rules now that we are in power.

[MooseOfReason]

Can't win? Change the rules.

Some strategy.

[Yostiemonster]

Grayson rocks!

[zet168]

Best health care system you say? In Switzerland, Germany, Sutralia, Ireland etc. NO ONE goes with out health care. You know why? Because most people in civilized nations in this world consider it to be a matter of human decency! Because they are not bothered by oh-so-terrible thought that their taxes might go towards helping their fellow citizens.

[zet168]

*Australia

[RealLifeProduct]

"The last decade of politicians are horrid.wake up"

Yes, wake up. Conservatives don't believe that government can solve problems and prove it every time they are in power. If you vote for the party that doesn't want to solve problems why would you expect the government to work? You need to vote people in that want to solve the problems for government to work.

[RealLifeProduct]

It's the states responsibility if not covered by the constitution. Welfare has a broad meaning much like defense. It doesn't say in the constitution that the government can create a missile defense shield but it's common sense that it's constitutional under common defense.

[LeopardFrogPilboxhat]

@RealLifeProduct

I'll grant you it's constitutional. I good idea? Umm the physicists say no

[LeopardFrogPilboxhat]

@zet168

I was talking about the feasibility of a missile defense shield.

I do find it very ironic that we spent so much on a shield instead of healthcare when lack of healthcare is many orders of magnitude a greater threat to the life and wellness that some non-existent missiles from some undefined enemy

[zet168]

Oh, I apologize, I should have read more closely.

[AfterLifeGuru]

The US is ranked #37 in world Health Care rankings, we're right between Costa Rica and Slovenia. I'd say we need major change.

[harvey101107]

Grayson, I don't understand why you are for this bill when you're grilling the Federal Reserve for wasting our money.

[travisjamesmajor]

That's pretty simple. He sees the trillions they have invested in foreign banks as a waste of money. Health care, on the other hand, is possibly the most important investment a government can make.

[harvey101107]

The Fed's credit swaps don't appear on the White House balance sheet. If he really wants to justify the spending, he should get the hell out of Afghanistan.

[travisjamesmajor]

I would be very surprised if he supports staying in Afghanistan. But anyways, I think its sort of avoiding the issue to say, "oh, but look at this thing the government spends money on... or this thing". Obviously there are many ways in which the govt should cut or expand spending. The need for health care reform must be evaluated on its own merits. That said, it is pretty difficult to say that the American system is anywhere near adequate... Hence, let's talk about some plans for reform.

[harvey101107]

I sort of forgot this video was on Grayson's account as I was talking more about Obama than I was Grayson. I know Grayson for a fact is very against the Afghanistan war, and I respect him for that.

[davethecaveman]

he speaketh the truth

[gerry1976]

Three words: Fuck the Republicans.

[RealLifeProduct]

The senate is not required by the constitution to have 60 votes to pass law except when amending the constitution,impeachment of the president or overriding a presidential veto.

[UruFan4]

Give me a thumbs up if you'd vote Grayson for President in 2016 after Obama's 2 terms are done :)

Personally, I know I would.

[ccm800]

Can we get 50 more like Grayson please?

[TTEchidna]

50 more? I wish there were 400 more.

[jo05dk]

It's one thing to try and get as many behind a bill as possible (everyone should want that), it's another having this bunch of howler monkeys doing everything they can to obstruct the good work the rest of the politicians are doing.

What's up with a 60 votes rule btw? Majority or not, that's the only thing that should matter. Especially as long as the rightwinged morons are on the loose.

Good idea Grayson.

[wdcsucks1]

both parties are run by wall street the FED and the NWO masters. grayson, did you really mean it when you went after the FED? arnt you working for them in an other way? its funny that you support a bill that will increase spending like hell and actually destroy the system completely. i have a lot of doubt of you and your motives now, A LOT!!!

[zet168]

Another Alex Jonesite who would rather fap to his conspiracy theories instead of fight for real change.

[wdcsucks1]

ha ha ha ha, you want change? then go ahead and have it!!! do you agree that the dollar is collapsing? do you know how much this bill will cost you? who is going to pay for it, your great economy? ha ha ha, your country is going down man it will just take the japanese to pull the plug and it is over! grayson wants to know where 500 billions went but where is he going to get the 1.2 trills for this bill? print more money? WAKE THE F UP MAN!!!

[zet168]

Why are you against America having universal health care when your country has one of the best government-run health systems in the world? Also, I don't understand why you think this will bankrupt our country or something, each individual plan is paid for by premiums not subsidies. Granted, it's a pretty mediocre bill compared to what it could have been but that's unfortuantely because so much of Congress and even the administration is bough out by health insurance companies and Big Pharma.

[cepivon]

Also, it is very disconcerting that Grayson supports the FED AUDIT bill, but cannot seem to understand the massive increase in taxes associated with this bill? He is "into" control himself, imho, as are all the Democrats and their neocon Republicans. I say throw them all out of office! And, don't talk to me UNLESS you've read the bill itself!! Don't even go there!

[cepivon]

I would be willing to BET than not 1 person on this board have even read the proposed Health Care "Control" bill. Why would any of you want a FED worker to take over the Health Industry? Why? We have Medicaid now. If it's so bad, then, why do we have illegals coming to get FREE health care. Duh..

[EcrossH]

Go Alan Grayson! It's about fucking time that we have someone fighting for improving this country.

[BlueSkies360]

More than 50 % do not want the HC bill passed. Plus, it is unconstitutional. BTW, how is you 50 million dollar weather station doing, Alan?

[RealLifeProduct]

Health care is not unconstitutional. It is in fact in the powers of congress. It is written in the preamble and in article 1 section 8 (powers of congress) of the U.S. Constitution. You will never see the supreme court strike this bill down for this reason.

[BlueSkies360]

Realcook: Sorry kid, you are wrong here. The only thing constitutional is that general welfare should be applied to all equally. However this bill is nothing more than a redistributin of wealth. Where in the constitution is it written that you can take more from one person than from another and some get subsidies? Also since when it is constitutional to put people in jail if don't buy health insurance?

[RealLifeProduct]

Amendment 16:

This decision holding the federal income tax to be unconstitutional is one of the few Supreme Court cases ever to have been overturned by constitutional amendment. In 1913, the adoption of the sixteenth amendment removed all limitations on the imposition of federal income taxes.

Congress immediately enacted a federal income tax with low rates that affected only a few people with relatively high incomes.

[desurgeon]

no where in the bill does it say you will be thrown in jail if you don't have health insurance. You probably think that the bill will have death panels also lol. stop watching Faux news they alter the truth. They don't report the news,

[muchosa1]

Perhaps you need to educate yourself and read the bill.

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years. [page 3]

[desurgeon]

and where did you find this??? link plz

[RealLifeProduct]

We are talking about health care bill not internal revenue code.

[muchosa1]

This is taken directly from the House health care bill.

[RealLifeProduct]

No it's not. HR3962 doesn't have a Section 7203 or Section 7201.

[htsyami]

Leave it to a CNBC talking head to talk about the benefits of stalling important legislation.

[htsyami]

Republican Healthcare plan = OXYMORON! There isn't one.

[jcfan42]

Of course there is one - in fact, there is more than one. Representative Grayson is an expert propagandist - lies followed by the assertion that debate must be ended.

[jrccdhetlr1]

nor does Alan Grayson potty mouth.

[kittycaMAL]

Great interview! Keep it up.

[jrccdhetlr1]

the PEOPLE dont want this bill alan, WAKE UP!!!

[TheWillseph]

Says you, shithead. You don't speak for everyone.

[SleepySkeptic]

The people overwhelmingly want this bill, but insurance companies don't so we end up with people thinking it's around 50-50 because of how the corporate media reports it.