AT LEAST THE SNOW IS CLEAN

From one mess to another. No not the snow storm nor local government and boards, but State and National politics.

Corzine is acting as expected ,filling every vacant board and/or authority position with last minute patronage appointments. That may be considered by some to be a natural happening from a lame duck Governor.

As I type this late at night the Senate still has not passed its version of the Health Care Reform Act. There have been so many amendments added to the original 900 pages t hat it may be approaching 2000 pages. How many Senators do you think have read the entire bill? If more than 5 I would be surprised.

Anyhow the lobbyists for concerned bodies have been busy and to get the 60 votes needed special interests such as insurance companies, academic non patient caring physicians , religious groups, pro lifers and right of choice have been accommodated. To get the 60th vote needed the Govt. has made antiabortion regulations more encompassing to please Senator Nelson of Nebraska.

7am:
With his vote at 1AM the Democrats had the 60 needed to stop the Republican filibuster. There will probably be four more votes today before the Senate Bill is fact. Then the dealings with the House of Representatives starts.

What we will get can be a bastard bill that the pork belliesers will have greatly increased the National debt, not reduced it or even held it in line. Many of the positive provisions will not take effect for two to five years down the road. Among them will be the "public option". The extending medicare to younger individuals will not take effect at once. It will take some time to even understand what is in this bill and delays in implementation will give vested interests time to protect their turf.