The Senate rules are somewhat complex and arcane. It's possible for any Senator to bring up a number of "points of order" against an amendment. Under the rules, if such a "point of order" is brought up, it can require 60 votes to clear the "point of order" and continue with the amendment. 41 votes could kill it.
BruceS wrote:
But I read on another thread that they are bringing it to the floor in a manner that will require 60 votes to win - that means that up to 12 Demonrats can vote to repeal and it still won’t pass. All for show - and the show will be that Demonrats in red or near red states will be able to claim they voted for repeal.
The most likely rules based challenge would be on the budgetary rules, the so called "PayGo rule."
I don't know how Dingy and the Dems will handle it. If they are worried about not having 50 votes (+Biden) to defeat the amendment, they could bring a budgetary point of order and hold things up with only 41 solid votes.
I think Dingy really wants this amendment to go down to defeat on a straight vote. It's going to depend on how many votes he has. If he has 50, there will be an actual vote on the amendment. If he has less than 50, there will be a point of order, and there won't be 60 votes to clear it.
In short, it isn't how the Republicans bring it up that matters. It's how the Democrats respond.
Thank you for the translation ; }
Call/email/fax for Obamacare Repeal folks!
Ben Nelson (NE)
Phone: 202-224-6551
Fax: 202-228-0012
Jon Tester (MT)
Phone: 202-224-2644
Fax: 202-224-8594
Joe Manchin (WV)
Phone: 202-224-3954
Fax: 202-228-0002
Claire McCaskill (MO)
Phone: 202-224-6154
Fax: 202-228-6326
I think it would be a GOOD THING to have the test vote be on 60 vote barrier. It would make it easier for some Dems to vote for repeal without it ‘meaning’ anything....
THEN you come back with the 52 repeal votes and demand an UP OR DOWN vote, and shut down other things until you get it.