Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is once again trying to force a vote that would give the American people an up-or-down vote on the Senate health care bill. Simpson is joining House Republicans in sponsoring a resolution that essentially requires at least one hour of equally divided debate on Senate amendments to H.R. 3590 and that the yeas and nays are recorded.

On Monday night, Congressman Simpson attempted a similar approach in the House Budget Committee by offering a Motion to Instruct to the health care bill. His motion would have required the Congressional Budget Office to provide the total cost of the bill based off of current data, a 72-hour waiting period for the bill to be posted online, and instructions requiring a separate vote for each health care measure. This Motion was defeated in Committee by a 21-16 vote.

“We intend to use every tool the Constitution provides us to stop the ‘Slaughter Solution’ that Speaker Pelosi is trying to achieve,” said Simpson. “The American people have a right to know how their representatives are voting on this health care legislation, they have a right to know what is in the bill, and they have a right to be represented. This scheme is unthinkable and discredits the Institution as we know it.”

The text of the Resolution follows:

H. RES. 1188
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RESOLUTION

Ensuring an up-or-down vote on certain health care legislation.

Resolved, That the Committee on Rules may not report a rule or order that provides for disposition of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3590, an Act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, unless such rule or order provides for—

(1) at least one hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, or their designees; and

(2) a requirement that the Speaker put the question on disposition of the Senate amendments and that the yeas and nays be considered as ordered thereon.