Posted on 07/24/2015 11:17:28 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Next week, Senate Republicans could pass Obamacare repeal with a simple 51-vote majority as part of the long-term highway bill, according to Sen. Mike Lee.
The Utah Republican laid out the argument in a press release after party leaders set the sequencing of votes:
"The first Obamacare vote on Sunday will have a 60 vote threshold, and Democrats will likely block it," Lee continued. "But thanks to the sequencing of the votes we just locked in, Republicans will have the opportunity resurrect that Obamacare amendment later on in the process, and put it back before the Senate in a manner that only requires a simple-majority vote."
After cloture is reached on the Export-Import Bank amendment, senators will still be allowed to offer germane amendments to the highway bill, each of which would only require a simple-majority to pass. If the Chair rules that the Obamacare amendment is non-germane, Senate Rule 22 also allows any senator to appeal that ruling to the full Senate. At that point, a simple-majority of Senators would have the power to add the Obamacare repeal amendment to the highway bill.
If Lee is correct, then Democrats, in order to save Obamacare, would need to kill the highway bill — and thus their effort to restart the expired Export-Import Bank. (Unless, of course, Republicans bail Democrats out and sink the repeal efforts.)
“Unless, of course, Republicans bail Democrats out and sink the repeal efforts.”
UNLESS????
Well, let’s hope Senator Lee is correct.
I have a feeling, however, McConnell and Reid will find some other arcane rule that will thwart their efforts even if Lee is correct.
Or they just won’t do it. It’s not like following the law or the constitution is particularly in vogue with the other two branches of government these days. /only marginally sarc.
Any Republican who screws this up gets voted out next time he’s up. No exceptions!
Yeah...
It’s a given...
Well up until this period. Who knows?
Maybe notice on Capital Hill has finally been served!
God bless Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
...sorry about that...
...and Mike Lee.
Obama will veto this, so what is the point, other than grandstanding, as Sen. Cruz observed?
Let Obama veto it then.
Reid was the one who protected Obama from veto flack.
We say that every election. Some of us even mean it and will follow through. You. Me. The ‘evil purists’ that so many hate here... And every year, the usual crowd of liberals screams “we gotta unite” and “This election is too important” and the rest of that crap. they already are.
They make it easy excuse people to cave in tie and again. They provide excuses. They provide a firewall that people then stand behind.
I agree with you completely. Vote them out. Every one. All but 5 or so deserve it anyway for the crap they did outside this. But we have been down this road every 2 years and it always ends the same because liberals here and elswhere push the same fear every two years.
The VAST majority of the country absolutely hates Obamacare. If he vetoes a repeal, the Democrats are wandering in the wilderness for the next 40 years.
Republicans do not want to sink Obamacare. This just a show.
I hope they make the difference. They are the only ones that could in DC. But I am sure the lesser evils will do as they campaigned on. Work WITH Obama.
IMO, no way Mitch and Jonbon go along willingly.
I agree. I think Ted Cruz’s floor speech may have done a world of good. All of a sudden potential good news on several issues.
This one and Planned Parenthood. What a change two weeks makes.
For many years now, a number of us have said religiously “Go Pitbull”. Hell even just call them the liars they are. Such a simple thing the truth is.
And the moment someone did, positive results flowed. Sure as night follows day. Imagine our surprise that we were considered kooks that would destroy conservatism and give Barry more power.
OK I fibbed a little. We weren’t surprised.
Norm, I don’t think you’ll agree with this, but without Donald Trump over the last two weeks, this doesn’t happen.
I know you don’t like the guy, but he’s paying off big-time already. Cruz deserves credit too, but honestly Cruz when to school off Trump this week.
His Senate speech was vintage Trump, from the last two weeks.
Just trash the dumb politicians. Trump was exactly right.
I’m fine with and support what Trump is doing 100%. He deserves a lot of credit. I just know whats coming after it’s over because history is what it is.
Anything that keeps Lesser evils from doing anything else is a good thing.
Ditch Mitch...
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