Greg Sargent's Plumline: Pelosi: Passing Health Reform Will Set Stage for Great Debate with GOP

[flpoljunkie]

(Emphasis mine.)

In her most expansive case yet for health reform, Nancy Pelosi argued in a small roundtable with bloggers today that passing it into law would set the stage for a great, long-term debate with the GOP over the proper role of government in our lives — and predicted that it would “take the country in a new direction.”

In the roundtable, Pelosi also provocatively hinted that the House planned to enact further health care reforms once this one is passed, suggesting that this is only the beginning.

And Pelosi also brushed off the claim over the weekend by the House’s number two vote counter, James Clyburn, that the House currently lacked the votes to pass the bill.

Pelosi argued that passing reform would give Dems a tool for drawing a sharp ideological contrast with Republicans and conservatives over time.

“Give them credit for being true to their convictions,” Pelosi said. “They don’t believe in health care for all Americans with any public role in it. That’s by and large what the Republican Party believes.”

Pelosi said passing the bill would allow Dems to undertake a “debate” with Republicans over “what is the balanced role that government should have.”

more...

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/pelosi-passing-health-reform-will-set-stage-for-great-debate-with-gop/

[Clio the Leo]

1. kick NT