Harkin: Reconciliation is a go
It’s about time. Bipartisanship isn’t going to happen. Most Republicans seem to think that bipartisanship means Democrats doing what Republicans want. (Sorry to be so late posting this but I had to take my Mom to the eye surgeon today.)
Harkin: Reconciliation is a go
Sen. Tom Harkin told POLITICO that Senate Democratic leaders have decided to go the reconciliation route. The House, he said, will first pass the Senate bill after Senate leaders demonstrate to House leaders that they have the votes to pass reconciliation in the Senate.
Harkin made the comments after a meeting in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office including Harkin and Sens. Baucus, Dodd, Durbin, Schumer and Murray.
When asked whether the leaders had made the decision, Durbin said: “We are moving ahead with a version of the health care reform bill that we believe has a good chance of passing both the House and the Senate.”
He then put the onus on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to signal whether she can provide enough votes to pass the Senate bill, followed by a package of fixes through reconciliation.
“The first step is with Speaker Pelosi and so I will let her decide what it takes in the House,” Durbin said.
“Reconciliation is a legislative process in the United States Senate intended to allow consideration of a contentious budget bill without the threat of filibuster. Introduced in 1974, reconciliation limits debate and amendment, and therefore favors the majority party. Reconciliation also exists in the United States House of Representatives, but because the House regularly passes rules that constrain debate and amendment, the process has had a less significant impact on that body. “SOURCE
March 4th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Sage, I hope all went well at the eye doctor for your mom yesterday. (Reconciliation is good. But I think the current democrats in power don’t have a clue anymore, nor do they have the spine, gumption, or chutzpah to stand up to the republicans and do the right thing.)