[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. LUCAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, Article I, section 5 of the United States 
Constitution states, ``the yeas and nays of the Members of either House 
on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be 
entered on the Journal.'' This is to ensure that important pieces of 
legislation, like the one before us this week, are given a clear up-or-
down vote. Yet here we stand today with the possibility that a massive, 
trillion-dollar government takeover of our health care system would 
actually not be voted on in this Chamber. Not only does this violate 
the spirit of fairness within the rules of the House and the confidence 
entrusted in us by our constituents, it potentially violates our 
Constitution. Legislative gymnastics should not be used to pass a bill 
of this magnitude that will impact the life of every American. Change 
is needed within our health care system. We can all agree on that. But 
in an effort to pass a health care bill--any bill--this congressional 
majority has lost their way.

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