The dems were using the 51 vote.
So how long before Doofus overrules the Parliamentarian?
Fairly certain that Pelosi hasn’t run out of things to bribe or threaten with.
Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday morning in finding two flaws in the House-passed Health Care reconciliation package. Neither is of any substance, but the Senate parliamentarian informed Democratic leaders that both are in violation of the Byrd Rule.
One is related to Pell Grants and the other makes small technical corrections. Why they’re in violation of the Byrd Rule doesn’t matter; the upshot is that Republicans will succeed in at least slightly altering the legislation, which means that the House is once again required to vote on it. With no substantial changes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) should have little problem assembling the same coalition of 220 Democrats who passed the measure Sunday night.
After the Parliamentarian Alan Frumin had advised the leadership of his ruling, the Democratic and Republican leaders huddled on the Senate floor and agreed to adjourn until 9:45 a.m.
Shortly after 2:30 a.m., Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), sitting in the presiding officer’s chair, asked if there was any objection to the adjournment. “I guess we’re adjourned,” said a punch-drunk Franken, hearing none.
A Senate Democratic aide said the one of the provisions in question involved changes to the Pell grant program, which is part of an education section in the reconciliation bill. The provision would prevent reductions in the amount of Pell grants for students from low-income families as a result of a decrease in money appropriated for the program by Congress.
Mr. Conrad said a third issue was under review by the Senate parliamentarian.
The risk for Democrats in a parliamentary challenge is that Republicans could knock out key provisions of the legislation, or win a decision that upends the mechanisms Democrats rely on to pay for the measure.
“We see no impact on the score and very insignificant impact on any policy,” Mr. Conrad said. “This is not going to be a problem.”
Mr. Conrad predicted that the Senate would complete work on the bill by 2 p.m. Thursday.
In addition to the changes to the health care legislation, the budget reconciliation measure includes a broad restructuring of federal student loan programs that will help pay for billions of dollars in education initiatives, including an increase in Pell grants for students from low-income families.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/health/policy/26health.html
PATHETIC!!!!!
I thought that old Purple Lips already signed it into law? Did they get their cart in front of the horse? SCOTUS is going to have a ball with this.......
COME ON NOVEMBER.
I would love to know what is methodical about not rejecting a provision that would ban Viagra for sex offenders.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but sending this back to the House won’t make any difference, because the bill signed Monday by BarryS0 is already law.
Right?