Posted on 03/10/2010 1:57:39 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Senate Republicans on Wednesday were preparing to send a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowing to raise potentially crippling objections to any portion of a proposed health care reconciliation package that they believe violates the procedure’s narrow guidelines.
The letter, signed by all 41 Senate Republicans and spearheaded by Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.), is actually directed at House Democrats. To sow discord among House Democrats and derail passage of health care reform in that chamber, Senate Republicans are making it very clear that anything House Democrats agree to could die in the Senate.
“Forty-one of us have signed a letter. It’s in writing. None of us will vote to waive points of order,” Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.) said Wednesday afternoon during a joint news conference with Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Thune (S.D.) and GOP Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Tom Coburn (Okla.).
Many House Democrats are wavering on whether to support the Senate’s underlying, $871 billion health care reform package — at least in part because they don’t trust the Senate to approve the sidecar, reconciliation legislation meant to fix the problems in the underlying bill.
The Democrats’ plans for passing health care reform call for the House to act first, passing both the Senate bill and the companion reconciliation package. That bill would then proceed to the Senate, where the GOP is promising to raise budget points of order against any portion of the legislation that it believes violates the strict rules governing reconciliation.
The reconciliation package is still being negotiated by Congressional Democratic leaders and the White House.
Although it only takes 51 votes to approve reconciliation bills, 60 votes are needed to overcome a point of order. If a point of order cannot be overcome and is not ruled improper by the Senate Parliamentarian, the measure objected to would be stripped from the bill and the reconciliation package would be sent back to the House.
“Although it only takes 51 votes to approve reconciliation bills, 60 votes are needed to overcome a point of order. If a point of order cannot be overcome and is not ruled improper by the Senate Parliamentarian, the measure objected to would be stripped from the bill and the reconciliation package would be sent back to the House.”
This isn’t quite true.
It is ultimately up to the whomever is presiding over the Senate whether or not the point of order is improper. Although it’s unusual to disregard the advice of the Parliamentarian, the presiding Senator (or the Vice President, when he is presiding) is not obligated to rule as the Parliamentarian advises.
Although it would be disastrous for the on-going comity of the Senate (but I think that ship may have sailed), it seems that all the Dems need to do is have the presiding officer rule the points of order improper. Then, it takes 60 votes to overturn the ruling of the presiding officer.
The presiding officer of the Senate, of course, is the Vice President, or that Senator (always from the majority party) to which the task is delegated at a given time.
To get around this, the Vice President or the designated Democrat will sit in the president’s chair and rule each and every point of order made by Republicans out of order, and be done with it.
Good point. There is a very recent example of this in Bunning's obtaining a point of order against the unemployment extension, and getting a vote on the point of order, and WINNING the vote on the point of order, only to have the decision of the Senate dumped in the hopper by a ruling from the chair. And any time a ruling from the chair is challenged, a simple majority sustains the ruling. Resort to the chair for a ruling, then surmounting objection with a simple majority is exactly the tactic that would have worked the "nuclear option."
“Reconciliation is a sham.
The Senate has already passed the Bill.
The House wants to send it to Obama without a vote.
meaningless posturing.”
Where has everyone else on this thread been? Reconcilliation will be bypassed and 0 will sign the bill into law if the house can get 216 votes for the Senate bill “as is”. The GOP can do nothing to stop it if Pelosi gets 216 votes.
Yes but will the USUAL suspects jump ship to help the Dum in Chief.
Guts from Repubs??? Wow...let’s see if it translates to ACTION!!!! Talk is cheap! DO IT!!!!!!
Good fpor them. But we are dealing with fascists. These gemtlemen may not know it yet, but their very lives are at risk.
I hope they have well honed personal security, fire arms , and the ability to protect themsleves against gun fire, car accidents and exotic poisoning.
We should pray for them , their patriotism, and that they may be able to stay the course against the fascist Junta enemy, Obama and his running dogs/thugs.
You can never trust the forecast for Snowe or when the Grassley will appear greener on the other side of the fence.
And what is the numerical limit on the number of points of order that the Repubs can make?
My point being that the televised image of the VP constantly overruling the Senate Parliamentarian is not one that I would think Democrats would like Americans to see. I would think it would leave the impression among not-normally-engaged voters that the Democrats are carrying "the ends justifies the means" beyond the current and obvious "illegitimate" to "intolerable", requiring a new Congress at the earliest opportunity.
I am always having to respond to Eeyorism amongst certain FReepers (not you!) who say "Give up, we're doomed, the Dems are all crooks, the GOP's are all wobblers," etc. etc.
But I always say, you can only work with the Congresscritters you have, not the one you wish you had.
And I also say cynicism is an excuse for people who just don't want to exert themselves. You should never give yourself the miserable luxury of saying, "There's no hope."
You hit the nail right on the head, Few know or even realize that the Obama Junta are fascist. They are capable of anything , including murder by exotic poison, car accidents, drownings, and outright gun play. How do you think Obama acheived national office, yet we know nothing of his background?
I hope Frumin is prepared to combat the Obama fascists.
I pray for him and his family.
Good for the republicans.
Now don’t screw this up.
That is a very good question.
As long as they aren't “dilatory,” innumerable.
But apparently, the presiding officer of the Senate can rule that points of order are being made strictly with the intention of delaying the process, are dilatory, and can then be forbidden.
Again, it comes down to “how much do you want to piss of the minority party {remembering that they will likely one day again be in the majority]?”
My understanding is that the Dems are willing to go all the way.
sitetest
Wake up, people. The Democrats don’t want reconciliation. Once the House passes the Senate bill, they will have no need for reconciliation. They will simply send it to Obama for his signature.
Well that is true, but you have some dedicated progressives on the house side that just do not like the senate bill.
They are pushing for the public option. Grayson, is doing something to assist the effort of the Shumer who has 41 votes for a public option on the house side.
The only hope, Stupak and those who just disagree with paying for abortion, and I have actually called even though I do not live there, and they do appreciate your call, so that would also be my advice.
Great comment, thank you.
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I heard on the radio yesterday that stupak supports the CURRENT funding levels for planned parenthood, the chief providers of the GENOCIDE of the Unborn.
Ladies too?
Of course, a strongly worded letter. Gee, what a set these folks have...
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