Late in the evening of Nov. 7, the United States House of Representatives voted for the federal government to take over health care in this country by a 220-215 vote. Included in that bill that will cost significantly more than one trillion dollars are sections to raise taxes on most Americans, gut Medicare, force taxpayers to pay for health care of illegal aliens and as many new regulations as can be dreamed of in 2000 pages of left wing Congressional gobbledygook.

Our own 8th District Congressman Jim Marshall voted against the bill as he said he would. But you can bet your last dollar that Marshall knew ahead of time the bill would pass and his vote would not be needed. You can bet that all the so called "Blue Dog," "moderate" Democrats had approval from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi before they voted no because she knew she had the votes to pass the legislation.

So where is the fault with Jim Marshall? Jim Marshall twice voted for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker of the House. And it's Nancy Pelosi who has pushed these radical ideas like this bill, the so called "Cap and Trade" bill that will cripple small businesses in this country and the climate bill that will even further damage private enterprise in pursuit of voodoo climate change ideas. It is Nancy Pelosi who commandeered her own 200 passenger Air Force Boeing 757 for her personal use to fly back and forth to her home in San Francisco when the assigned Gulf Stream jet wouldn't do because it had to stop along the way to refuel. Each one-way trip costs taxpayers $60,000 but she can fly in style while telling the rest of us how to live our own lives.

If our Congressman Jim Marshall is so in touch with the heart of Georgia that is the 8th Congressional District, counties stretching from Newton to Colquitt, one county removed from the Florida border, why did he twice vote for the most extreme liberal ever to be Speaker? Why would he or any of us not expect his votes to have consequences? Why would he not expect Nancy Pelosi, once unleashed, to run roughshod over the Constitution, individual rights, self determination and aspects of our society that made us great? Why would he not expect her to bring the most radical, leftist San Francisco values to the whole country?

Jim Marshall has some explaining to do and it needs to begin now.

Sen. John Douglas, a resident of Georgia's 8th Congressional District, serves as Chairman of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. He represents the 17th Senate District which includes his home county of Newton and portions of Henry, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.375-1234 or by e-mail at john.douglas@senate.ga.gov.