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 Obamas 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 ...
Heck, they are bypassing the GOP on everything else.
hat approach may be the only way they can fulfill President Obamas campaign promises, but it carries high risks as well.
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Damn straight it carries risks. Think of the 4/15 tea parties times 1000.
We NEED term limits for everyone in office.
It won’t get any better until we do.
“Huh? If 5 defect, they still win by a vote of 54-46.”
Yeah, math challenged here.
This is pretty close to what brought us the Republican congressional landslide in 1994.
Resist. Fight. No surrender, no compromise.
Do they not get that if they pass a bill like this that it will be target #1 for gutting or total repeal when the GOP takes over?
Legislation needs to have at least 2-1 votes for it to be secure in the long run. Reforms of any kind never have any lasting power unless there is a sizable vote in favor from BOTH parties.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want this socialist pet project of theirs to get passed all I am saying is they are forgetting a lot about senate history. Partisan bills don't for the most part last long once enacted.
I hope the American People and the Senate GOP force the Democrats to choke on their vile legislation!
They did - on tax cuts.
bump & thanks for posting—this is huge issue and folks need to be aware of it—there should be tea parties on this issue alone—their strategy is to ram something new every day—literally and then distract us with petty issues—so we are focusing on credit cards, but this, with the exception of the cap & trade, is the mother-lode of socialism!!!!!!!! Really, what else is left for them to takeover????
As I understand it as per Mark Levin’s analysis on 4/23 show, they are planning to use the reconciliation process and simply add this in the conference meetings of the budget bill—no separate bill.
Glad there are a few in congress willing to fight! Need to support them!!!
People, this is hyuuuuge!!!!
“If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when its free. P.J ORourke
btt—After Tea Parties, people were asking what they could/should do...This is huge, need to start by contacting congress & senate. Don’t wait do it before it is too late.
bttt. Again, thanks for posting. I have Rat representation at Senate level; not expecting much cooperation there!
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