Posted on 03/01/2009 4:30:38 PM PST by cdchik123
President Obama’s budget director said the White House would consider using a Senate procedural tactic so that only 50 votes would be rquired to pass major healthcare and energy reforms.
Peter Orszag, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration would prefer not to use the budget reconciliation process to push through its package. But he added: "We have to keep everything on the table. We want to get these.... important things done this year." Orszag called healthcare in particular "the key to our fiscal future."
Orszag made the comments on ABC’s "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
Because they can not be filibustered, budget reconciliations only require 50 votes to pass the Senate. Democrats hold strong majorities in Congress, but still come up short of the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to end debate, which makes it easier for Republicans to block legislation. House rules in comparison make it harder for the minority party to stop bills.
Still, using budget reconciliation to pass policy proposals is controversial, even among some Democrats who believe doing so strains Senate rules and tradition.
The Obama blueprint calls for major changes in both energy and healthcare policies that is likely to engender significant opposition from Republicans and business lobbies. The reforms are expect to win widespread support from Democrats and more left-leaning constituencies.
The budget plan calls for a cap on carbon emissions, for example, and projects $645 billion in revenues from an auction of pollution permits that a variety of business groups, including oil companies, large manufacturers and utilities, would have to purchase.
On healthcare, the plan calls for a $634 billion reserve fund to pay for a first step on healthcare reform.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Peter Orszag, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration would prefer not to use the budget reconciliation process to push through its package....then added, "I'm kidding! Of course we'd prefer to use it, pretty much for everything. And that 'assault weapons' ban? We plan to apply that to anything that uses gunpowder."
Yep, with the ACORNholes funded with our tax dollars, there's no way we'll see a legitimate election. Oh, they'll still hold one, but the election results will look a lot like those of that other Hussein fellow over in Iraq.
We're down to the "last box", and the Dems are betting the farm that we won't use it.
Translation: the dictatorship of Hussein has begun.
The Rats just can’t seem to ever follow the rules.
Anyone who wants to know what we will look like in 10 years need just look to Argentina.
Holy crap, we are so screwed.
Too funny. Read my last post!
Yep. I’d hate to try voting in Chicago in 2012.
Don’t like the rules, change the rules. Typical Democrat.
“They will still blame Bush, Republicans and Conservatives.”
I don’t care who they blame, I’m remembering Congress and the clowns in the White House.
Good question. Unfortunately, some of them (names withheld to protect the guilty - you know who I mean) are more interested in positive press coverage (no matter how temporary), and making friends among the invading hordes (who was that European guy the Dems would love - Mr. Quisling?), than in preserving & protecting our liberty & our Constitution...
McCain doesn’t have any power. It’s the Dems in the Congress and the White House we should worry about.
Lets not forget it was John McLame who stabbed us in the back and now we see what we get in return.
Man I cant stand McCain - he is one filthy POS.
She wouldn't tell me until just 4 days ago that she voted for the slime bucket Bozo, I know she sold out because she wanted the national health care. I told her that her husband was so old they would let him die anyway and that she had just helped condemn her grandchildren to a life of communist rule. I also told her I never wanted to speak or associate with her again.
She used to rant against National Health care but now that it became difficult for her she thinks that will solve everything. I feel sorry for her, not for her husband, but for the fact she felt she had to vote for this idiot and will soon see her folly. It is sad to lose a friend.
This is what Republican "bipartisanship" got them. One set of rules for Republicans, no rules for democrats.
Are you paying attention GOP? These democrat low life's are NOT your friends.
That's their plan - A Stalinist Society with Oboma on the thrown.
My wife’s family has made a similar bargain. They want whatever the government offers. *sigh*
war
President Obama’s you only got 53% of the vote
That thing is not photo-shopped??
Wow. Some people have absolutely no shame or self respect at all.
Republican are in on this
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