This is how our debate began on the bill to create a health exchange, where consumers can evaluate health insurance policies. The exchange would implement the Affordable Care Act.

“When I was driving here, I heard something on talk radio,” stated a Republican delegate.

“Many people consider that entertainment,” responded the Democratic floor leader for the legislation.

What followed was entertainment only if you’re amused by excessive and misleading rhetoric.

My Republican colleagues declared:

“This bill takes us down the dark night of socialism.”

“This won’t solve our uncompensated care problem because the people in emergency rooms are not lawfully present in this country.”

People will still be buying their health insurance from private companies. The Congress did not nationalize the industry.

Far too many of the people seeking care at an emergency room don’t have health insurance on the job. The vast majority of them are citizens of this country.

That’s no joke.

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I now have two file cards in my breast pocket.

One lists the 14 bills or issues I’m working on that have passed the House of Delegates and will avoid the delay of the Rules Committee.

The other has my five bills still waiting for the Red Sea to part in the House so that they can cross over to the dry land of the Senate.