How many votes do we need now? 51 or 60?

[Deep13]

My impression as that after the conference committee vote, we only need 51 for passage.

[unhappycamper]

1. I believe that 51 votes will do the trick. n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. It depends...

Technically, there still must be a vote for cloture, which means 61 votes. If the Senate invokes the so-called Nuclear Option, then the Democrats needs only 51 votes.

I suspect that the outcome of the Mass Senate Race will determine which way it will be.

[Lasher]

3. Since Senate Democrats have not so far invoked a Nuclear Option or Reconciliation,

it is not likely they will do that at this point to avert a Republican filibuster of the conference committee report. I do believe 60 votes are required for cloture, not 61.

There is another alternative, however. The conference committee could adopt the version exactly as it was last voted on in the Senate. Then the committee report would not have to return to the Senate for a vote, but would go straight to the president after it passed a House vote.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. You're right about it being sixty votes...

But reports make it clear that there WILL be changes to the Senate version, so a vote will be required.

And my point was that if Brown wins in Massachusetts, then the Democrats don't have 60 votes even WITH Joe Lieberman on board. Unless there's a Republican willing to cross the aisle, they'll have to invoke the nuclear option or go home.

And they're not going home.

[Lasher]

9. Yes, as it stands now there will be changes to the Senate version.

But if Brown wins, that would change the landscape. In that case, with little or no hope of overcoming a filibuster, they might decide to employ the alternative I described, since Senate Democrats have so far shown no enthusiasm for either the nuclear option or reconciliation.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

10. You're assuming the House Dems will go along with that...

and that Organized Labor will accept the excise tax as originally contained in the Senate Bill

Both of those are VERY unlikely.

[Lasher]

12. No, I'm simply speculating. I don't know what's going to happen.

Who knows?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. Oh I do....Absolutely.

In fact, for a small fee I'd be happy to sell you tomorrow night's winning lottery numbers.

:)

[rhett o rick]

23. If the Dems lose a Sen seat, the only way they will get anything is for the HOR to approve the

Senate bill as is. The choice will be Senate bill or nothing.

[rhett o rick]

14. Good point. If Brown wins, the Dems may decide that the only way to get a bill passed

is to go with the Senate version. That would only require 51 votes. So it would be the Senate version or nothing choice for the HOR. By the way, I dont believe there is a conference committee. I think they are using the "ping-pong" method. If there was a conference committee, the repukes could slow the process down at every turn.

Do you know what the current thresholds are for the so-called "Cadillac" plans?

[Lasher]

20. I think it's currently $8.5K for individuals and $23K for families.

In the scenario I described the bill wouldn't go back to the Senate for a vote at all.

[rhett o rick]

24. Yes I agree. The HOR would just approve the Senate bill and it would go to the

President. Thanks for the data.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. Negotiations bumped up the threshholds

8,900/24,000

Also exempted Dental and Vision Plans

Exemptions for high-risk and older workers

Plans included in collective bargaining agreements have a couple years grace period.

[rhett o rick]

27. Thank you so much. nt

[laughingliberal]

25. I do know

The compromise worked out with the unions raised it to $24,000 for family plans and $8,900 for individuals. It excludes the premiums for dental and vision.

[rhett o rick]

28. Thank you very much. nt

[DrDan]

7. "61"????-perhaps you mean "60"

[Toots]

4. To be able to vote on the bill in the Senate it first has to be put "on the table"

To do that it takes sixty votes. Once it has been placed there then the actual vote only needs a simple majority.. Republicans still have one last shot at stopping it..

[Better Believe It]

6. You need 51 votes to pass and 60 votes to end a non-existent Republican filibuster

[Deep13]

8. Well, that's the question...

...I was under the impression that there is no chance for a filibuster once it goes to conference.

[Better Believe It]

22. There is no House/Senate Conference on this bill.

It has to be rammed past Congress without time to even study the details of final agreement between Congressional leaders and President Obama.

That's why there isn't a conference and that's why members of Congress and the public will only be given 72 hours to read the final 2,000 pages plus bill.

[rhett o rick]

15. Agree. But only 51 is needed if the Senate bill is agreed to by the HOR. nt

[BlueDemKev]

11. 60!

60 votes are needed in the Senate. If Coakley loses, and we Republicans have the 41 votes needed to block final passage, the only option left is for the House to pass the Senate's version of the bill (which passed Dec. 24) word-for-word. A very tall order and a politically-risky move.

[Deep13]

13. "...we Republicans have the 41 votes ..."

I think you got lost on your way to Free Republic.

[BlueDemKev]

18. Oops!

I meant "THE" Republicans, not "we" Republicans. A thousand pardons!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

21. methinks Freud is in the house! watch that slip... n/t

[RoyGBiv]

16. We Republicans?

[RoyGBiv]

17. Mostly likely 60 ...

The conference report is subject to the same cloture rules that govern normal bills.

The only difference here is that no amendments may be offered. "Debate" is restricted to the report.

[rhett o rick]

29. I didnt think this went to conference committee. I thought it was via ping-pong. nt