Posted on 03/21/2010 2:44:33 PM PDT by GOPGuide
Senate Republicans on Sunday said that their Democratic counterparts have ignored requests to meet jointly with the parliamentarian about a potential rule violation that they say could halt the reconciliation healthcare bill.
Republicans say that a provision in the reconciliation packages raises Social Security revenue, thereby violating rules regulating the reconciliation process.
"Republicans have been trying to set up a meeting with Senate Democrats since yesterday to discuss this fatal point of order but have been met with nothing but silence," Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. "We suspect Democrats are slow walking us so as to have the House vote first."
snip
Republicans say that the Social Security provision breaks a rule that limits changes that can be made to entitlement programs using reconciliation.
Again, per Santorum, this 1974 law does not just stop reconciliation but the ENTIRE Senate bill:
http://republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_Id=6b53ad02-2d4b-4134-a08d-7c439defd83b
Breaking: “Fix” Bill May Not Advance In Senate
Senate Democrats Refuse Bi-partisan Meeting With Parliamentarian Until After House Votes
WASHINGTON DC – Senate Democrats have balked at a bi-partisan meeting with the Senate Parliamentarian to discuss a rule violation that could doom the entire House reconciliation proposal.
DON STEWART, McCONNELL SPOKESMAN: “Republicans have been trying to set up a meeting with Senate Democrats since yesterday to discuss this fatal point of order but have been met with nothing but silence. We suspect Democrats are slow walking us so as to have the House vote first. Since Senate Democrats refuse to meet with us and the Parliamentarian, we’ve informed our colleagues in the House that we believe the bill they’re now considering violates the clear language of Section 310g of the Congressional Budget Act, and the entire reconciliation bill is subject to a point of order and rejection in the Senate should it pass the House.”
BACKGROUND
DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP RELEASE: “The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the health care legislation shows an increase in Social Security revenues… CBO projects that the resulting increase in wages will generate $29 billion in additional FICA contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund.” (“Health Care Reform Update,” Office of Rep. Steny Hoyer, 3/21/10)
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT: “LIMITATION ON CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution reported pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under section 301 or 304, or a joint resolution pursuant to section 258C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.” (Congressional Budget Act Of 1974, Sec. 310g, P. 31)
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT: “LIMITATION ON CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution reported pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under section 301 or 304, or a joint resolution pursuant to section 258C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.” (Congressional Budget Act Of 1974, Sec. 310g, P. 31)
Sssshhhh...you can’t mention this, otherwide Stupak and his band of slimy thugs won’t be able to feign surprise after the vote!
“Huh...whuh...duuuhh, we didn’t know anytin’ ‘bout ‘dat. Aw, shucks and we went and voted an everytin’. Golly gee, if we’d only known”.
My head is spinning! The house will vote on the exact senate bill first! That makes reconciliation irrelevant.
I heard that and it is huge...!
This is the REAL “March Madness”
I don’t think the Supreme Court will get involved unless the Constitution is violated. If the Legislative Branch violates one of it’s own rules, that’s their problem. SC will be hands off.
No, Santorum says the 1974 law throws a wrench into th gears and sinks BOTH the reconciliation package AND the actual Senate bill.
Want to hear what Mark Levin hs to say about this 1974 rule.
Then again, Dems make the rules as they go along.
That's what I was thinking-can't the Dem's vote no on reconciliation and then Obummer signs it-kind of confused?
Can someone please explain this?
The House GOP needs to tell the entire House about this now. This means that Senate HCR bill is the ONLY bill now and that NO Fix bill will matter. All those in the JACKASS party have to be informed that they cannot hide behind any fix bill or EO. They will be fully exposed and cannot hide.
Fine, let them pass it then if it truly is a doomed piece of legislation.
Rules?? We Dems don’t need no stinkin rules!!!!
McCain is shining Obama’s shoes and Palin is out raising money for McCain.
Some members of the GOP are out there fighting.
Amen! Im asking the same thing? Where the hell is everyone? THere apologizing for some freakin racial slurs thats where Steele was this morning. Pieces of dung!!!!
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