Reconciliation is...

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   SparklingJewelposted 14 years ago

   "For those not versed in the arcane rules of the U.S. Senate, reconciliation is not what a divorced couple attempts when they visit Dr. Phil. It is a mechanism for avoiding filibusters on certain budgetary issues. If Democrats can find a way to apply it to health care reform, they could pass a bill with just 51 votes, negating the election of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and the loss of the 60-seat supermajority. Reconciliation was established in 1974 to make it easier for Congress to adjust taxes and spending in order to 'reconcile' actual revenues and expenditures with a previously approved budget resolution.
   
   Thus, at the end of the year, if Congress found that it was running a budget deficit higher than previously projected, it could quickly raise taxes or cut spending to bring the budget back into line. Debate on such measures was abbreviated to just 20 hours (an eyeblink in Senate terms), and there could be no filibuster.
   
   As Robert Byrd, (D-W.V.), one of the original authors of the reconciliation rule, explained, 'Reconciliation was intended to adjust revenue and spending levels in order to reduce deficits ... [i]t was not designed to ... restructure the entire health care system.' He warns that using reconciliation for health care would 'violate the intent and spirit of the budget process, and do serious injury to the Constitutional role of the Senate.'
   
   In fact, in 1985, the Senate adopted the 'Byrd rule,' which prohibits the use of reconciliation for any 'extraneous issue' that does not directly change revenues or expenditures. Clearly, large portions of the health care bill, ranging from mandates to insurance regulation to establishing 'exchanges,' do not meet that requirement." --Cato Institute senior fellow Michael D. Tanner

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      Quilligrapherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Sparky, for posting Mr. Tanner's quote.

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   A Texanposted 14 years ago

   "Reconciliation is..."
   
   The only way they will get this bill passed!

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   Arthur Fontesposted 14 years ago

   Let them force it through reconciliation.  The majority of Americans are against this health care bill.  Go ahead force it on us we won't remember!

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      A Texanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, Americans are dense that way! Go for it, Obammy!

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   ledefensetechposted 14 years ago

   Remember when the left wing nuts were proclaiming the death of the Republican party last year?  If this goes through, you can kiss the Democratic party goodbye.  The leadership knows this, that's why Comrade Pelosi told members that their "service" was not to perpetuate their election to their seat, but "to serve the greater good" of the country. 
   
   Hearing her say that makes me want to puke.

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      Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The only "good" she's concerned about is her own.

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         ledefensetechposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hence my gastrointestinal distress.

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            Madame Xposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            

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   A Texanposted 14 years ago

   "Remember when the left wing nuts were proclaiming the death of the Republican party last year?"
   
   I believe our very own Ron Montgomery is still saying this, that wacky guy!

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