Democrats withdraw healthcare amendment used by GOP as stalling tactic

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders got his chance today to argue for a single-payer form of healthcare overhaul, a doomed proposal that Republicans turned into weapon to slow the legislative process.The battle over the amendment was part of the political infighting as Republicans use procedural moves against Democrats seeking to pass a healthcare bill by Christmas.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, was given the floor to argue for expanding the Medicare system to all Americans. The proposal had no chance of passing the Senate, where the real action is among Democratic leaders trying to round up 60 votes needed to pass a healthcare bill that abandoned a public option.

Republicans today had forced the Senate clerk to spend hours reading the Sanders amendment aloud, a procedural move that slowed the legislative process and created another obstacle for Democrats.

To stop that tactic, Sanders withdrew his amendment and was given a chance to make his arguments. Sanders called the GOP delaying action an outrage.

After his speech, Sanders successfully moved to table a Republican amendment that would have sent the healthcare bill back to committee to add a provision stopping new taxes until benefits are paid. Under the Democratic bill, the taxes to fund healthcare reform would begin immediately, while many benefits would be delayed for several years.

-- Michael Muskal Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal

Related: GOP stalls healthcare debate in Senate