Showdown on Capitol Hill: 'Health Care' Debate Begins

Faithful Catholics must recognize the primacy of the Fundamental Right to Life as we evaluate this proposed legislation.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - I just returned from Washington, DC. The City is charged with a frenzied war of words and increasing activity, all revolving around the "Health Care Reform" package which Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to get passed quickly. Today, in a rare Saturday session, the "showdown" in the "People's House" begins. The very term "People's House" developed in reference to the House of Representatives because it has been perceived as closer to the people then the Senate.

The House, until the passage of the 17th Amendment to the US Constitution, was the only legislative branch to be elected. Senators were chosen by their respective State legislators. The term "People's House" reflected the widely held perception that the House members were actually closer to the people and listened to them, especially after the amendment. In addition, the fact that each of the 435 members is accountable to a smaller District apportioned according to population, and only served for two years, furthered the impression that it deserved the term "the People's House".

Unfortunately, in the debate over "Health Care Reform", that perception - or what was left of it - is being seriously undermined and nearly eliminated. The amount of money and "special interest" involvement in this process is staggering. The apparent lack of interest in hearing from the people is evident.

For faithful Catholics, we must recognize the primacy of the Fundamental Right to Life and the Dignity of Every Human Person from conception to natural death as we evaluate this proposed legislation. We should also then apply a hierarchy of values and principles in our approach to evaluating the legislation. We can and we will differ among ourselves on a number of issues. However, the very premise for even attempting any reform of the current system for the delivery of health care services is the dignity of every human person, right? The grave dangers which the current version of "Health Care Reform" present, if not amended to protect our youngest neighbors in the first home of the womb as well as our ill and elderly from the looming risks of rationing, must be our utmost concern.

Proceeding from this foundational concern over the current legislation and its disregard of the Right to Life arise a panorama of other very serious concerns, not the least of which is whether this massive bill - and the infrastructure it creates - violates the principle of subsidiarity. This is a social ordering principle articulated in the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church which rightly enshrines the common sense understanding that governance is "good" when it is closer to those being governed in order to best allow for their participation and ensure efficiency, effectiveness and justice. The smallest governmental unit, beginning with the family and moving out from there, should always have the primacy of placement in the provision of governance in order to serve the true common good. A larger governing unit or mediating institution should not take the rightful role of the smaller.

The debate over this attempted "Health Care Reform" has generated an extraordinary amount of citizen participation. This is good in a Nation which is supposed to be based upon a representative form of governance. Unfortunately, it has also generated an accompanying sense of disillusionment among many citizens that the "People's House" is simply not what it is supposed to be. The Health Care Debate has also fueled an even more rapid degradation of discourse than what had already been occurring, especially in the media. The use of disparaging and dismissive terms such as "Wing- nuts", heard now regularly as a "talking point" on one network, and "Wacko's", heard too frequently on another, demonstrate this unfortunate turn in our discourse.

Finally, it is very hard to keep track of what is really going on given the efforts to rapidly move this Legislation to a vote. So, our friend, Dr. Deal Hudson just sent me a great summary of what will occur today, in the "Saturday Showdown on Capitol Hill". With some minor additions and comment I pass it on to our readers in order to focus our prayer and participation. It is a sort of schedule/program to assist us in this important hour.

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1. The Rules Committee adjourned early this morning.

2. The House will convene at 9:00 am on Saturday. One-minute speeches and suspension votes are first on the agenda and then the fun begins on health care.

3. Speaker Pelosi's bill will receive four (4) hours.

4. Congressman, Catholic and pro-Life Democrat Bart Stupak's Pro-Life Amendment,( to prevent the funding of the killing of children with tax dollars) WILL be heard and will receive one (1) hour. (Deal indicates from his sources and astute ability to read the "tea leaves" in the political process, this amendment Will pass.)

5. The Republican alternative Bill will be presented and receive one (1) hour.

6. The so called "Doctor Fix" will receive twenty (20) minutes.

7. The Pelosi bill was not changed to prevent illegal immigrants from purchasing in the public option.

8. President Obama addresses the Democrats at 11:30 AM in the Cannon House building. The debate on health care will begin after this "pep rally".

9. They still don't have the votes.

10. Pelosi's bill will be the last vote, which, if it is going to happen on Saturday, will be in the evening.

11. There will be a Rally at the US Capitol at 1 pm on Saturday. Opponents of the current legislation will meet on the East side of the Capitol.

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