Obama, Senate May Stymie 60-Vote GOP Filibuster Efforts

The Bulletin ^ | Tuesday, March 03, 2009 | Joe Murray

[curth]

The Obama administration announced Sunday it would keep all options on the table as it prepares to battle Republican lawmakers over a massive budget that stands to usher in historic changes in energy and health-care reform.

Peter Orszag, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, refused to rule out the possibility the Obama administration would press for the use of a questionable Senate tactic in which just 50 senators would be needed to pass the controversial changes. The comment was a clear indication the White House is expecting a bruising battle over the legislation.

By using the budget reconciliation process — a lawmaking provision that would keep the budget safe from a GOP filibuster — the budget would need only 50 votes to pass instead of the 60 traditionally needed to overcome a filibuster.

“We have to keep everything on the table. We want to get these … important things done this year,” Mr. Orszag told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. He singled out healthcare by describing it as “the key to our fiscal future.”

But there is serious question as to whether the Obama administration’s use of the budget reconciliation process is consistent with the bill that birthed the process.

Codified in 1974, the budget reconciliation process was to be used “as a deficit-reduction tool, to force committees to produce spending cuts or tax increases called for in the budget resolution.” There is serious doubt, however, the procedural tool intended to reconcile existing tax or entitlement law with the new tax or mandatory spending targets can be used to circumvent debate on an issue of national importance.

[SunkenCiv]

Obama may use 50-vote tactic on energy, healthcare
The Hill | 3/1/09 | Jim Snyder
Posted on 03/01/2009 10:30:40 AM PST by Nachum
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2196762/posts

[prismsinc]

You know, back to this topic, this article is skewed to blame the GOP for blocking Oba-clair. As I listened to Rush yesterday, I now realize that the reason Oba-clair wants to block the filibuster isn’t because of the GOP; It’s because the Demmies are now in trouble with their constituents, and Oba may not be able to get ALL Demmies to vote with him.

The GOP makes convenient scapegoats for the media. It’s the Demmie party they need to worry about, NOT the GOP!