reconciliation
GUESS WHAT, OUR HEADLINE EMPLOYS SARCASM. Consider Tom “I Am A Doctor Like Howard Dean” Coburn, who has introduced a slew of wacky amendments that will be super-tough for Senate Democrats to vote against, because any change that the Senate makes in this bill would send it back to the House for a new vote.
If the Senate actually wanted to pass a public option through reconciliation, it could be done, without much of a hot fuss. But (according to the easiest path) that would first require Nancy Pelosi to put one in the House reconciliation package, and she’s like nuh-uh: “‘We’re talking about something that’s not going to be [...]
Hooray, liberals, we did it! That sucker Obama was all “I’m not doing reconciliation” then “Well, look, here are the facts” and then finally “I will pursue reconciliation.” Now, let’s see how this process will play out under Senate rules, shouldn’t be too burdensome… GAHHH.
Look, 20ish senators — including Super Powerful Chuck Schumer — have called for a public option to be passed through reconciliation, which is good policy and good politics, because it shows the opposition that if they’re not willing to offer some votes, more provisions they don’t like will be passed. (Not that they actually care [...]
OH JESUS CHRIST: Here’s a problem with the latest, well-meaning Democratic push to try and pin Republicans (correctly) as pure power-hungry obstructionists who care about nothing and ruin everything: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS PROCEDURE. “Asked how many GOP senators voted for the chamber’s health care bill on Dec. 24, only 32% know that the measure received [...]
