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 ...
nope all the demonrats are still alive and kicking....
By the looks of them, I'd say they're both pretty low on the testosterone level. On the other hand, some of the male Republicans have more than their fair share of estrogen.
Because they couldn't count on about 5 or 6 republicans to stand with the rest against the dems if they tried it.
The only downside (Dowd-side?) to which would be a precipitous decline in the publication of Catherine Zeta-Jones pictures on Free Republic.
You mean McCain for instance?
And these stupid republicans “shared” power with the democrats when they were in power.
Well it is just what we deserve.
First they came for the lives of the unborn, and WE DID NOTHING!
New YOUR’K Slimes running it up the flagpole for their commisar Bama.
“It may be a struggle to get to 60,”
It will be a struggle to get to 50. Since 85% of Americans already have health insurance it is likely most of them will not like anyone screwing around with what they already have. The assumption that all Democrats will support an incredibly expensive and permanent health program is a fantasy. Once the cost of this program and what it does to future budgets becomes apparent this thing will die a quick death.
“Webb, Virginia dem voted to require 60 votes for massive GW taxes).”
And a huge part of Webb’s constituency is government employees who have the best health insurance going. There is no way he is going to vote to take away their benefits.
Good point. I figured Webb didn’t want every last tax and spend albatross hung around democrat’s necks.
“Yes, it only takes 8 or 9 Senate dems to stop this from hapenning.”
If you count Sanders and Lieberman (independents) the dems have 59 seats in the senate. If 5 defect they lose. Assuming all Republicans vote against it there should be at least 5 conservative Dems that will vote against it.
” 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.”
No it won’t !
That’s the problem.
The Republicans that are there want to be Mr. Nice Guy to their esteemed colleagues and would never dream of playing dirty like this.
They’re just going to continue to try and get along with the democrats until we don’t have a country left.
THROW THE BUMS OUT AND GET A NEW TEAM !
We need to have every primary election result in no incumbent being on the ballot.
They’ll have to do something about all those Catholic Hospitals before they can have their monopoly.
Snowe
McCain
Specter
Collins
Voinovich
“If you count Sanders and Lieberman (independents) the dems have 59 seats in the senate. If 5 defect they lose.”
Huh? If 5 defect, they still win by a vote of 54-46.
And they're too smart to hang this anchor around their ow necks - unless they've started believing their own press.
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... but it carries high risks as well... 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... 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.He says that as if it's a bad thing.
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