but this doesn’t matter, because the bill’s law as soon as it passes the house.....right?
correct
It doesn’t matter the Senate bill will be law by tomorrow
If the house passes the Senate Bill then the Resident in Thief can sign it and it becomes law. Many people in the house are voting on this with the expectation that it will go to reconciliation. With no reconciliation possible many of the kickbacks will remain law.
Many Democrats in the House do not like the Senate bill (Cadillac tax, Nelson and Landrieu deals, etc.) and possibly would not vote yes on it unless they were assured the reconciliation package would pass the Senate. Harry Reid either met with or sent a letter to House Dems assuring them that he had the votes to pass reconciliation. He only needs 51 votes.
McConnell is saying that language in the reconciliation bill cannot be considered in the Senate because of House rules (don't understand the details but something to do with earmarks). If that is the case then what the House has to consider is if they can vote for the Senate bill with no guarantee of fixes.
What's even more delicious if this is the case is that if the House and Senate create another bill to fix the current one, it is subject to Senate filibuster rules, not just a 51 vote majority. So Scott Brown will become more important than ever. The House may very well never get the fixes they want.