White House won't rule out reconciliation on healthcare bill

[HopeOverFear]

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/67011-white-house-wont-rule-out-reconciliation-rules-on-healthcare

White House won’t rule out budget reconciliation rules on healthcare
By Sam Youngman - 11/09/09 03:50 PM ET

The Senate could still use budget rules to pass healthcare without 60 votes, the White House indicated Monday.

President Barack Obama is hopeful that the Senate will pass a healthcare bill with 60 votes, but White House press secretary Robert Gibbs held out the possibility that budget reconciliation rules could still be used.

He said Senate leaders and the White House would turn to those rules, which would prevent the Senate from needing to secure 60 votes for procedural steps, only if they are not making progress.

As long as “we continue to make progress, then we don't see any need to change the process,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs was then asked what the White House would do if progress is halted in the Senate.

“Then we'll look at alternatives,” Gibbs said.

The Democrats will have to pull all 58 of their members along with the two independents who caucus with the party to win 60 votes on procedure, assuming Republicans vote against them.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has warned he will vote against legislation that includes a public health insurance option.

Gibbs said the president was thrilled by Saturday's House passage of the bill despite the narrow margin, but he acknowledged that with Senate consideration and conference committee still looming “we have miles to go before we sleep.”

[Aramchek]

1. This is why Holy Joe will cave in the end.

Otherwise he will be stripped of his power,
and the bill will still pass through reconciliation.

[emulatorloo]

6. Hopefully Joe is just putting on a show for his donors. "Well guys I tried, but what can I do?"

Or maybe he is trying to blackmail Reid into giving him something else.

[uponit7771]

12. Yeap, Big Ed mentioned that and I was relieved somewhat...

[DCBob]

2. What exactly does "reconciliation" mean?

How would it work? Can someone provide the details. Thanks.

[emulatorloo]

8. Wikipedia article: "Reconciliation (United States Congress)"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(United_States_Congress)

ON EDIT: DU is messing up the link

Copy and paste this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(United_States_Congress)

[Aramchek]

9. Reconciliation is a budgetary process which cannot be Filibustered

Basically, Healthcare Reform would be included as part of the overall budget rather than a stand alone bill.

[uponit7771]

13. The risk is the budget can be changed yearly so a new party with different ideals

...will change what's in the budget

[vaberella]

18. and we don't want that. n/t

[DCBob]

23. I see. That sounds like where we are headed.

Thanks!

[Avalux]

3. The White House needs to get tough - finally.

This and what Obama said today about the turd abortion amendment are the things I want to hear, and I want them to escalate over the coming weeks. Pressure, pressure and more pressure. I want Harry Reid's ears to bleed.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. that's a development. rec'd

[polichick]

5. Joe Loserman should be tarred and feathered by his fellow Congresspeople. nt

[Leo The Cleo]

7. Great News!

[IndianaGreen]

10. White House has ZERO credibility!

Just who in the hell is running health reform in the White House?

[high density]

11. I think the guy in charge at the WH is some guy named Barack Obamo? Obama? Something like that

wikipedia might know

[uponit7771]

14. -1 unrec this reply, come on...hyperbole is getting tiresome

[struggle4progress]

15. Choosing, whether or not to use reconciliation, isn't up to the White House: it's up to Congress

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. I guess checks and balances, or separation of powers, is a foreign concept to some posters.

It also seems like it's foreign to Gibbs.

The White House doesn't, nor should it, have any say in what the House or Senate does.

[ChicagoSuz219]

16. Whatever it takes... nt

[vaberella]

19. Thanks for this post and I'm glad to hear it. No "unnamed sources" either. n/t

[cleveramerican]

20. I hope they do it.

Let the other side scream, and push on anyway.

Come on Harry, Do you want to get in the history books?

[Clio the Leo]

21. Which is why his budget proposal last spring laid the foundation....

Obama Tactic Shields Health Care Bill From a Filibuster
By CARL HULSE
Published: April 24, 2009

WASHINGTON — At the prodding of the White House, Democratic Congressional leaders have agreed to pursue a plan that would protect major health care legislation from Republican opposition by shielding it from last-minute Senate filibusters.

The aggressive approach reflects the big political claim that President Obama is staking on health care, and with it his willingness to face Republican wrath in order to guarantee that the Democrats, with their substantial majority in the Senate, could not be thwarted by minority tactics.

While some Democratic senators were reluctant to embrace the arrangement, Mr. Obama made clear at a White House session on Thursday afternoon that he favored it, people with knowledge of the session said.

Mr. Obama has given way in some battles with Congress, but the new stance suggests he may be much less willing to compromise when it comes to health care, his top legislative priority, even if it means a bitter partisan fight.

The no-filibuster arrangement is fiercely opposed by Republican leaders, who say health care is too important to be exempted from the Senate rules that usually mean major bills must win support from 60 senators.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/us/politics/25budget.html

[RepublicanElephant]

22. reconciliation = medicare-for-all....

...if dems have the guts. sure would bring about some landslide democratic victories in 2010 and 2012, if they do.