Wed
Dec 16 2009
05:02 pm
How to pass a real Health Care bill via the "reconciliation" process
By: sugarfatpie

Want to see more GOP delay tactics like this?  (link...)

No? Then skip all the BS of placating Lieberman and use a trusty little parliamentary maneuver called reconciliation. The nitty gritty is explained here. (link...)

We would have to postpone certain aspects of the bill, but the core remains intact (public option and anything else that might influence deficits).  Otherwise you are left postponing the core of the bill, indefinitely in all likelihood, and passing only what Lieberman wants.

Of course, many GOP senators and reps will bemoan the "unfairness" of this, ignoring their own recent use of reconciliation to pass the Bush agenda. (link...)

And these were not minor things passed with reconciliation either:

  • parts of the Contract with America in 1995
  • the first round of the Bush tax cuts (2001)
  • opening up land in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve for oil drilling

(link...)

So stop moaning about how the Dems can't seem to get it together, and start putting on the pressure to use reconciliation.  Otherwise the party risks losing much of its progressive base in 2010, in much the same way that the GOP is losing its rabidly conservative base. 

And regarding all the important stuff that can't get through reconciliation, just put it on some other bill as a rider or try again later.  For now we've got to focus on real health care reform.

(link...)
reform4's picture

Insurance Reforms

Submitted by reform4 on Wed, 2009/12/16 - 5:55pm.

I think the main reason they didn't want to go this route was that a reconciliation bill (to my understanding) could not include regulatory reforms on insurance companies.   They didn't want to throw those out.

But now we have the perfect opportunity-  throw the mandate out of the current bill, pass whatever is left, and came back in January with Medicare FOR ALL using reconciliation.

Dems should learn a lesson and do everything they can with reconciliation (like climate change rules, which could fall under the reconciliation process).   Remove every leadership position from Lieberman and the other Blue Dogs who voted to obstruct this bill.

I can't believe Rahm played ball with these guys, but apparently he's a Blue Dog at heart himself.

Virgil Proudfoot's picture

Unfortnately, it ain't just Rahm

Submitted by Virgil Proudfoot on Thu, 2009/12/17 - 9:58am.

"I can't believe Rahm played ball with these guys, but apparently he's a Blue Dog at heart himself."

Rahm works for Big O, and he does nothing he wasn't told to do. It looks to me like Obama has turned out to be a sleeper agent after all, just not a Muslim terrorist; instead, he turns out to be a sleeper Republican, programmed to complete Bush's third term.

sugarfatpie's picture

Does Obama think no one is really following what's going on?

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Thu, 2009/12/17 - 11:07pm.

(link...)

Could he really think that passing anything at all, no matter how stinky will help in 2010?

Stop looking like an amateur and take this to reconciliation.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher) "X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

sugarfatpie's picture

Its BAAACK- reconciliation that is

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2010/01/26 - 8:31pm.

Hoyer: House And Senate Discussing Reconciliation For Health Care

(link...)

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

R. Neal's picture

At this point, if it isn't

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2010/01/26 - 8:36pm.

At this point, if it isn't HR676 I ain't interested.

I suppose I could go along with a bill for no exclusions and no rescission, so Obama can "check it off his list" and we can wait another generation for real reforms.

But without a public option or national health insurance (public or otherwise), it's pretty much meaningless.

And any kind of mandate would be criminal negligence without a national public health insurance plan of some form or another.

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