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GOP finds loophole in reconciliation ploy [Death of a thousand amendments to ObamaCare]
The Hill ^ | 2/3/10 | Alexander Bolton

Posted on 02/03/2010 9:11:13 AM PST by Nachum

As it turns out, Senate Democrats may not be able to force healthcare legislation through the chamber on a simple majority vote.

Republicans say they have found a loophole in the budget reconciliation process that could allow them to offer an indefinite number of amendments.

Though it has never been done, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says he’s prepared to test the Senate’s stamina to block the Democrats from using the process to expedite changes to the healthcare bill.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; bhohealthcare; congress; demint; fascism; gop; healthcare; loophole; obama; obamacare; overide; ploy; reconciliation; republicans; scf; strategery
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To: bestintxas

Ballast.


41 posted on 02/03/2010 10:50:28 AM PST by esquirette (If we do not know our own worldview, we will accept theirs.)
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To: Drill Thrawl

Grow up. If the GOP senators wanted this to pass over their objections, they could have done that anytime last year.


42 posted on 02/03/2010 10:56:11 AM PST by Mr. Silverback (We're right, we're free, we'll fight and you'll see!)
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To: Made In The USA

You’re an outight partisan!


43 posted on 02/03/2010 10:56:55 AM PST by alancarp (Calling all states: Reduce the cost of doing business and jobs will flock to your doors.)
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To: Nachum
As it turns out, Senate Democrats may not be able to force healthcare legislation through the chamber on a simple majority vote.

It's that "may not" part that worries me. You can bet the demscum has every legal mind and so-called "constitutional expert" working to find loopholes of their own.

These people hell-bent on turning America into the socialist mecca they envision and they won't stop until they reach that goal.

44 posted on 02/03/2010 10:57:28 AM PST by South40 ("Islam has a long tradition of tolerance." ~Hussein Obama, June 4, 2009, Cairo, Egypt)
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To: alancarp

oops: “outRight”. I guess Dolphin Phans can’t type.


45 posted on 02/03/2010 11:01:11 AM PST by alancarp (Calling all states: Reduce the cost of doing business and jobs will flock to your doors.)
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To: Made In The USA
2. The Buffalo Bills are given all draft picks for the next 10 years.

Bears, Lions, and Cleveland fans might have an issue with that one.

46 posted on 02/03/2010 11:02:38 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Nachum

Thank-you Senators! Now please do it, go to the mat for us on his one and all of you will be rewarded in November with as many republicans as we can send to help you out. :)


47 posted on 02/03/2010 11:04:56 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: AU72

I’m thinking it takes a 2/3’s vote to change senate rules.


48 posted on 02/03/2010 11:08:43 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: Nachum
How about bipartisanship? Obama says he wants to ‘fix’ things. You don't believe him? Why don't we trust him for once?

:) just funning, please dont ping me with FY

Amazing but dems can't give this lost battle up, this is their last chance to do health care in and they think they got so close to passing a bill it kills them.

49 posted on 02/03/2010 11:32:26 AM PST by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is spending you demand stupid")
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To: Nachum

bkmk


50 posted on 02/03/2010 11:33:57 AM PST by novemberslady
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To: Nachum

I read the comments on the linked site. I’m amazed that these people are smart enough to breed. Did they all do too much drugs in the 60’s or something? How can so many people become mentally deranged at the same time?


51 posted on 02/03/2010 11:45:22 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: John O
How can so many people become mentally deranged at the same time?

Reminds me of a joke: I love humanity, it's just people I can't stand....

52 posted on 02/03/2010 11:47:26 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Nachum
I don't see the loophole (in the rules) at all. See 2 USC Sec. 641(e)(2). Not to say the rules are sacrosanct, but following the rules does not result in an indefinite debate time to address an indefinite number of amendments.

2 USC Chapter 17a - Congressional Budget and Fiscal Operations

Sec. 641. Reconciliation
(e) Procedure in Senate
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of section 636 of this title for the consideration in the Senate of concurrent resolutions on the budget and conference reports thereon shall also apply to the consideration in the Senate of reconciliation bills reported under subsection (b) of this section and conference reports thereon.
(2) Debate in the Senate on any reconciliation bill reported under subsection (b) of this section, and all amendments thereto and debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 20 hours.

Another point worth noticing, is that the budget process is Byzantine. A morass imposed on the Congress, by the Congress.

53 posted on 02/03/2010 11:58:22 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Nachum

DeMint....clanging brass ones..on a Pubbie!!who’da thunk!!!


54 posted on 02/03/2010 11:59:31 AM PST by mo
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March; betty boop; neverdem; little jeremiah

One can only hope......


55 posted on 02/03/2010 12:02:41 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus; Politicalmom

ping


56 posted on 02/03/2010 12:06:18 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Made In The USA

Ya know, I know Buffalo fans are the most loyal in the nation, but you’ve got it bad.


57 posted on 02/03/2010 12:09:51 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Drill Thrawl
I think the pubbies are looking for a loop hole that would allow this to go through but make the pubblies look like innocent victims.

Actually I think it's the other way around. The Democrats are preparing their excuses as to why they can't get a health care bill through the Senate using reconciliation. Their left-wing base has convinced itself that Reid only needs 50 votes (plus Biden) for a sidecar fix which will satisfy the House and get something signed into law. Now the Democrats are agreeing with the Republicans that the unlimited amendment "loophole" may make it impossible, to explain why HCR still fails.

Even if the Democrats were to manage to prevent unlimited amendments, they'd still have to allow a large number of amendments to be voted on. And those would be very painful amendments (they don't have to be germane to the topic) which would force the Democrats to take positions which would alienate one constituent group or another.

At this point the Democrats just want this whole mess to fade away. So they'll keep "searching for a path" and other platitudes to try to sooth their base, but never quite find that path due to all of the Republican obstructionism. Eventually November will roll around, and the elections will either greatly reduce the Democrat majorities in the House and Senate or actually switch control to the Republicans. Either way, socialized medicine will be dead for at least another few years.

58 posted on 02/03/2010 12:10:28 PM PST by dpwiener
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To: Cboldt
(2) Debate in the Senate on any reconciliation bill reported under subsection (b) of this section, and all amendments thereto and debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 20 hours.

The loophole is that debate is limited, but not the amendments themselves. So the Senate may have to immediately vote on each amendment rather than debate it, but if there are hundreds or thousands of amendments, that keeps chewing up the clock. Every roll call vote will take at least 15 minutes. Also, if unanimous consent is not given, I believe the text of each amendment would have to be read.

59 posted on 02/03/2010 12:16:29 PM PST by dpwiener
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To: Star Traveler
In California, it's the political party, not the candidate, that vouches for the candidate's nationality.

Recently, California elected a Lt. Governor who had no birth certificate and was witnessed to have been born in Mexico to Mexican nationals.

None the less, the California Democrat Party certified that Cruz Bustamante was a US citizen.

60 posted on 02/03/2010 12:17:21 PM PST by Amerigomag
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