[Kackikat]

Yes, but it has to be a bill defeated by a Senate Vote, and REID tabled the House bill on Cut, Cap and Balance, so how does he introduce a NEW Bill?

[Yo-Yo]

In the case of the Health Care Ripoff Bill, Reid took a minor money bill that the house had passed earlier and as I said amended it by striking everything but the H.R. bill number. The senate is allowed to offer amendments to a House passed bill, then return it to the House for a second vote on the amendments. There is no law saying how much or how little can be amended.

I'm sorry I can't provide the specifics, but I wondered the same thing back then, how could the Senate originate a money bill, and that was the answer given to me by several FReepers at the time. Even had the original and amended bills linked at one time.

[Yo-Yo]

Yes, but it has to be a bill defeated by a Senate Vote, and REID tabled the House bill on Cut, Cap and Balance, so how does he introduce a NEW Bill?

I did a bit more research, and found it. H.R.3590 was originally titled "Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009" and was "amended" by the Senate to become "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Clicking on the H.R.3590 link will take you to the Thomas.gov history of the bill.

Reid can do the same thing to "originate" a budget bill in the Senate.