Posted on 04/22/2009 12:20:19 PM PDT by reaganaut1
With solid majorities in both houses of Congress, Democrats are tempted to use their political muscle to speed passage of health care legislation with minimal concessions to the Republican minority.
That approach may be the only way they can fulfill President Obama’s campaign promises, but it carries high risks as well.
In the budget blueprint for the coming year, Democrats may resort to an obscure procedure known as reconciliation to clear the way for Senate passage of a comprehensive health bill with a 51-vote majority, rather than the 60 votes that would otherwise be needed.
“It may be a struggle to get to 60,” said Senator Jeff Bingaman, Democrat of New Mexico, who is working on the legislation.
Use of the expedited procedure, to prevent a Senate filibuster, could both help and hurt the Democrats. It would enable them to overcome Republican objections to a big increase in federal spending and a huge expansion in the role of government. On the other hand, it could fundamentally alter the political dynamic of the health care debate, detonating an explosive reaction among Republican senators who have been working with Democrats on the issue.
If Democrats use the fast-track procedure, it would be tantamount to “a declaration of war,” said Senator Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, the senior Republican on the health committee.
Under the reconciliation process, the House and the Senate first agree on an overall budget blueprint and then pursue legislation — in this case, the health care overhaul — “reconciling” the budget outline with the needed policy changes. As long as 51 of 58 Senate Democrats support the legislation, the White House would not need a single Republican vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Just Damn. I swear I could cry right now. Anyone anywhere have any good news today.
Go ahead, punks: MAKE MY DAY!
“If Democrats use the fast-track procedure, it would be tantamount to “a declaration of war,”
We are ALREADY “at war” with the Democrats & RINOs, so what’s your point, Senator?
“Anyone anywhere have any good news today?”
I made a donation to SARAHPAC!!!!!
How quickly the Dems forget about the traditions of the Senate. If they go down this road then some day it will come back to haunt them. They will still cry when it happens though.
And the Republicans couldn’t do this kind of thing when they were majority why?
If they try it then every Republican in Congress should just walk out the front door and hold press conferences every day, touting a better proposal.
Yes, it only takes 8 or 9 Senate dems to stop this from hapenning. They stopped the global warming tax nonsense that way (e.g. Webb, Virginia dem voted to require 60 votes for massive GW taxes).
NEW YORK TIMES DOWN TO $34 MILLION IN THE BANK...
$1,300,000,000 IN DEBT...
Well, no, but you can stay at a Holiday Inn Express tonight.
On a related topic......I never really believed in werewolves or vampires until now.
I like your tag line. It gave me a good laugh. But Palin and Bachmann also have more testosterone than most male Republican politicians!
And so goes the myth of a bi-partisan tone in DC.
“If they go down this road then some day it will come back to haunt them.”
I believe you’re right. But they will only have themselves to blame, not the Republicans or Bush.
Because the Pravda Media said so.
“NEW YORK TIMES DOWN TO $34 MILLION IN THE BANK...”
That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! Can’t wait for the day when Miz Dowd pukes out her last column.
Guess my first comment was a little harsh.
Can we get a judge to force them to follow the Constitution?
WOW I feel the same way. good news: getting off work early on a beautiful day in the 70’s. bad news: getting off work early for annual GYN checkup.
I tend to be naive, keep thinking at some point some of the dems are going to wonder what all of this might mean for their re-election chances.
Why not, they’ve done it on everything else. Great. Let them own it for posterity.
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