Quick question... someone explain to me why unemployment can't be extended

[Capitalocracy]

through reconciliation.

Serious question, I'm not just finding a snarky way to say they should pass it through reconciliation, I'm not versed on the rules and I'd like to know why I haven't heard anything about it and whether it's an option. Thanks.

[Arkana]

1. I think we've already done it once or something.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. You can't use reconciliation for something that increases spending. eom

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. Ezra Klein answers this about every ten days....

Here's the long view and version:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/are_democrats_setting_themselv_1.html

[Kennah]

4. Reconciliation has been used for other than the budget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_%28United_States_Congress%29#Historical_use

I've read over and over that reconciliation can only be used once in a given year. However, I've been unable to find a reliable source.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Reconciliation....

...can only be used on the budget.

Congressional Research Service PDF.

Legislation that affects the budget's bottom line, affects the budget, and so is handled that way -- the HCR bill had subsidies, tax preferences, etc, that clearly placed it in that category. DADT, for example, wouldn't.

But first you have to have a budget. Else there's nothing to reconcile. And presently we don't. The government is working off a series of continuing resolutions, because the Congressional leadership didn't want to pass a budget per se going into the elections.

[Capitalocracy]

6. How'd that work out for them?

Great job, guys.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Widely considered...

...and called a dumb move at the time, by wonky poli-sci types like Ezra Klein, e.g.

But like baseball managers who keep intentionally walking people, and calling for stolen bases, or sacrifice bunts, in all the traditionally 'normal' situations, failing conventionally is always 'the right move' career-wise.

[Exultant Democracy]

8. Also explain why republicans only have to threaten a filibuster to stop a bill while

but democrats actually have to do more then threaten.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Done. Here...

...and party has nothing to do with it, if you cast your mind back to Congress pre-2006.