Posted on 02/24/2010 4:07:54 AM PST by tobyhill
As a major White House meeting on health care reform approaches this week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledged Tuesday that he may use a controversial parliamentary shortcut to bypass GOP opposition and pass a bill.
The fast-track approach, known as reconciliation, would allow Democrats to pass the bill with just 51 votes, not the 60 usually required to overcome a filibuster.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Democrats are being "arrogant" because the American people don't want a giant health care overhaul, but Democrats still plan to "use any parliamentary device to jam it through a reluctant Congress."
"It's hard for us to quite understand why, with reconciliation being planned, we're having a meeting which is allegedly designed to engender some bipartisan agreement," said the No. 2 Senate Republican, John Kyl of Arizona.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
LLS
It's not a "fast-track approach", it's an abuse of process to circumvent the rules. Nice attempt at spin though.
I expressed my condolences and asked what he died from.
As has been mentioned previously, this Senate turd doesn’t have the votes in the house. Also, on Foxnews last night (a reporter for the Hill who I can’t remember her name) said very emphatically that there is no way for the Democrats to do this vis a vis reconcilliation.
This was discussed in November and they concluded back then it was impossible. She is not an idealogue or opinion columnist but a pretty fair reporter so I take her word for it. She is perplexed why they keep bringing it up other than a ploy to try to get Republican support for the current bills.
You know, just this morning I was thinking that the Rats, maybe even Obambi himself, really, really hope this “bipartisan” summit -— Obamacare: The Unreality Show -— never airs.
They may act like they can’t wait to kick Republican butt on TeeVee, but I’d wager the real story is that they know there’s a huge risk for them in this strategy.
I can’t say I’d be surprised if the Republicans aren’t attending because they do know how to crash this party.
This does appear to be the case. That and it's the only way to string along their own base that maybe they are going to find a way to cram down Obamacare after all.
I see no reality to this blather, only political theater. What a colossal waste of time. OTOH, see my tagline.
Yes this is all kabuki theatre and what Lawrence O’Donnell said that the bill is flopping around like a goldfish out of the bowl. Obama and Dems have to do this to hold their hard left base, they get that 25% disenchanted and it really is over for them. Love how the MSM and the belway pundits
If the Democrats can convince the “brilliant independents” that the Constitution stands in the way of “progress”, you can kiss any sort of change in the 2010 mid-term elections good-bye.
IMHO
Exactly. It was the “nuclear option” under Bush
:-)!
LLS
It ain’t a “healthcare” bill...its a tax bill....and if they keep trying to “talk” about “passing” this sucker....you have to wonder exactly how ugly the creature they perceive as an alternative. Think about it.
“
Democrats could bypass GOP on health care bill (Rats to do it.
No point in a “bipartisan” meeting)
“
Despite the claims that Dems will not use the “reconciliation”
(aka, “nuclear”) option for ObamaCare...
My view of the current situation is “be shocked at nothing”.
There is no limit to what political wh-res like Obama, Sen. Reid, Speaker
Pelosi and their crime syndicate associates will do.
I saw the allstars on Fox, they said the house has about 190 at most votes on a Bill that passes the Senate.
If they have the votes, I wish they’d just STFU and git er done, then face the bloodbath come November.
it is possible that something great will come out of this...
democrats will be so hated by the majority of Americans that they will never get power again for decades..and Republicans can try to stop it with various procedures..and it is only good for so many years
This power grab and outright corruption will wake the American people out of their slumber
“More often than not Republicans have used reconciliation to try to affect their agenda, so what’s good for the goose ought to be good for the gander,” he said.
Does anyone know if it was used by the repubs for budget issues, or for jamming their own agenda through? There’s a BIG difference.
They cant use recon on the forced purchase of insurance etc. THEY WANT THE TAXES. If proposed for recon Biden has to ask for a parlimentarian vote (which takes 60 votes) to accept amendment. All the obummer wants is the money folks. He doesnt give a shit about the other stuff.
Illegal options are always available, but even Harry and Nancy know there is insufficient support for their crime, no matter how willing they are to commit it.
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