Americans need to understand the devastating significance of the House vote on the Senate health care bill set for March 18th. The Democrats have–by design–created the perfect storm to take over the US healthcare system, while providing an ideal distraction–reconciliation.

First, let’s examine exactly how we got here. In late December, while Americans were arguing that no one had read the bill, Leiberman was posturing to vote against the bill with a public option, and the debate on abortion continued, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took an existing HOUSE-passed bill, H.R.3950–the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009–and here’s how it unfolded:

10/8/2009:
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
10/13/2009: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 175.
11/19/2009: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S11578)
11/19/2009: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S11578; text: CR S11578)
11/20/2009: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S11826-11879, S11888-11903)
11/21/2009: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S11907-11967)
11/21/2009: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 39. Record Vote Number: 353. (consideration: CR S11967; text: CR S11967)
11/21/2009: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
11/21/2009: Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S11967)
11/21/2009: S.AMDT.2786 Amendment SA 2786 proposed by Senator Reid. (consideration: CR S11967)
In the nature of a substitute. emphasis mine

The GOP must have known what was about to happen next because they were united in voting “Nay” against this bill on November 21, 2009. Additionally, the Senate Amendment offered by Reid was none other than the Senate version of the healthcare bill.

Reid HAD to do this. Why? Because all legislation that raises taxes MUST originate in the House of Representatives and H.R. 3590 satisfies that requirement.

I will repeat that, Harry Reid switched the language in H.R. 3590 and replaced it with the Senate’s version of the health care system takeover in order to satisfy the requirement for all legislation raising taxes to originate in the House. The bill summary outlines the evolution of this bill:

OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes.

OFFICIAL TITLE AS AMENDED BY SENATE:
An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

For the record, Republicans did challenge this amendment substitution, but were defeated. The simple fact that the Democrats voted on Reid’s “amendment” is appalling and demonstrates their condoning of the abuses we are seeing unfold. Democrat Senators are now willing accomplices to the destruction and socialization of the US health system.

The deceptive practices to pass a government takeover of healthcare can be summed up as the ultimate betrayal by the Democrats against the American people in order to ram through their progressive, socialistic, freedom-stripping policies.

Furthermore, the Democrats talk of “reconciliation” or the nuclear option is nothing more than a diversion from what the real goal is–to pass the Senate version through the House and then have Obama sign it into law.

And once signed into law, does anyone really think that Obama will keep his promises of the “fixes” through the reconciliation process after he got what he wanted via the Senate bill? Seriously, he will have the healthcare takeover he wants, so why make the House and Senate suffer more.

In addition, I don’t think that the House will hold the bill to work out differences between the two chambers as is being floated. While it may be an optional maneuver, the Democrats need the tax increases to take effect now so they can offset some of their rabid spending.

The House Democrats have a choice: either stand with the American people and kill the bill or endorse the deception, betrayal, and bribes of Harry Reid, Obama, Pelosi, and the Senate Democrats, in addition to the destruction of the US health system. Either way, the American people will never forget.