No trickery, just vote

Both the House and Senate have approved bills that would vastly expand the number of Americans with access to health insurance coverage. Democrats in the two chambers were responsible for this historic step, having to act without a single Republican vote.

This Republican strategy - refuse the Democratic majority support on any major initiatives - dates to before the inauguration of President Obama and its chief architect is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, as a story in Wednesday's New York Times carefully details. By blocking the health care plan, the minority party hopes to energize its base and gain support from independent voters concerned about the cost and scope of the legislation.

This contemptuous strategy could backfire if voters conclude the Republicans are obstructionists with no clear agenda of their own.

It leaves Democrats few options if the party wants to achieve the goal of providing universal access to health care. This has been an objective of the Democratic Party since Harry Truman was in the White House. To avoid a sure Republican filibuster in the Senate, Democrats in the House must adopt the Senate bill and then have both chambers approve a separate reconciliation measure containing compromises.

A bill of this complexity will never contain elements that everyone can agree on. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should call upon members of her caucus to act in the best interest of the nation. Do they believe that everyone should have access to something as fundamental as health care or do they not? If they do, then they should adopt the Senate plan and begin the reconciliation process, even if it places their re-election at risk.

The alternative is no reform, tens of millions remaining without health insurance, continued rising costs and a dispirited Democratic base.

What Speaker Pelosi should not do is use parliamentary trickery to avoid a difficult vote - "deeming" passage of the Senate bill and taking votes only on the more popular changes to the Senate bill. While other congresses have used the strategy, it would feed the perception that the majority party is trying to get something over on the public.

Let the votes be counted, Madame Speaker, and if not enough Democrats have the courage to stand tall, then so be it. The party and president will then confront the consequences of a major legislative defeat - leaving neither party shrouded in glory.