wonkroom.thinkprogress.org - 4/24/2009
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The White House is strongly urging Senators to include budget reconciliation language in the health care section of the budget, a move Republicans have characterized as a “deceleration of war.”
Indeed, after pushing everything from the Contract with America, to welfare reform, to ...
corner.nationalreview.com - 4/24/2009
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corner.nationalreview.com —
In the next week or so, Democrats will
make sweeping changes to American health care using "budget
reconciliation," an arcane process that allows Congress to minimize debate, prevent amendments, and circumvent filibusters in the Senate, a top ...
(more)
Ryan: Dems Will Rush Through Health Care
blogs.tnr.com - 4/23/2009
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blogs.tnr.com —
Even Republicans seem to be conceding that, as
reported here and elsewhere a few weeks ago, the
Senate will go along with the House and include reconciliation instructions for health care. Assuming all of us are correct, it means the Democrats will ...
(more)
Reconciliation: This Changes Everything
tnr.com - 4/20/2009
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tnr.com —
'Reconciliation" means "restoration of harmony." But as a
term of art in budgeting, it has become an
act of war. President Obama and most Democrats in Congress hope to include health and education reform in reconciliation instructions as part of the ...
(more)
Truth and Reconciliation
Comments
Blog Reactions
Rep. Ryan: Democrats have a ‘right’ to use budget reconciliaton.
Think Progress —
... health care. So, you're right about that. They have the votes with reconciliation. They nailed down the process so that they can make sure they have the votes and that they can get this thing through really fast. It is their right. It is what they can do.”
Notably, much of President Bush's agenda was passed in Republican-controlled Congresses using budget reconciliation. At the Wonk Room, Igor Volsky writes that reconciliation is the key to achieving health care reform. ...
If You Want Health Reform, Reconciliation Must Be On the Table
Matthew Yglesias —
... yesterday to block a vote on Kathleen Sebelius’ confirmation on the grounds that she’s pro-choice, it’s time for a little Real Talk. There’s no indication that Republicans have any serious desire to cooperate on a serious health care reform bill. Instead, they seem to be interested in using the carrot of cooperation as a way to get Democrats to unilaterally abjure procedural methods and revenue sources that would make reform possible.
Igor Volsky surveys the record:
Of course, if you don’t give, you’re not gonna get and ...
Reconciliation = health care reform
Political Animal —
... down the process so that they can make sure they have the votes and that they can get this thing through really fast. It is their right. It is what they can do." This, of course, isn't even close to the usual Republican line. The typical argument is that Dems don't the "right" to pass key bills under reconciliation; only Republicans have that right. What about the cost of annoying the congressional minority party by using the same legislative tactics they utilized? Igor Volsky makes a compelling case that it seems the reconciliation process is the only realistic way to get ...
Conrad: Just Like Specter, I’m Still Opposed To Using Budget Reconciliation To Pass Health Care
Think Progress —
... argued last fall, "[I]f we as a society fail to control health care costs, there will be a detrimental effect on our nation’s economy and standard of living."
Keeping reconciliation on the table does not preclude using the "regular Senate process" that Conrad prefers. To make use of that regular process requires that congressional Republicans negotiate health care reform in good faith. But as Igor Volsky explains, Republicans have shown in recent months that they have no intention of doing so:
Key Republicans voted against the popular ...
Sahil Kapur: Obama Must Unequivocally Champion the Public Option and Fight For It
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com —
... Through all the transparent dishonesty it's become clear that the GOP wants this bill to fail for its own political reasons. It's really that simple. If these reforms are to have a positive impact, Republican support is not feasible -- and more importantly, not necessary. ...
Related Content
If You Want Health Reform, Reconciliation Must Be On the Table
yglesias.thinkprogress.org 4/24/2009 —
The debate over the use of the “budget reconciliation” process has taken on a weirdly circular quality. On the one hand, folks say that going through reconciliation will wreck the chances of Republican cooperation. On the other hand, ...
Reconciliation
balloon-juice.com 8/3/2009 — Rockefeller says he’s for it if it’s the only way:
“If it is a choice between getting a good health care bill and doing it in reconciliation, I will take that in a shot,” Rockefeller said. “What I don’t like ...
Health Care Reconciliation In Tentative Budget Deal!
openleft.com 4/24/2009 — It appears that the Republican "threat" to make gigantic public displays of partisan asshattery if Democrats provided cheaper, more accessible health care to Americans has failed. Although victory has not yet been finalized, a tentative budget deal ...
Joke of the Day: Budget Reconciliation and Health Reform
WWW.samefacts.com 8/2/2009 — Finally, finally, people are beginning to see the possibilities for using budget reconciliation as a means to get health care reform -- a strategy I've been advocating for close to a month now. Which is what makes this little nugget from Carl Hulse's ...
The Simple Calculation On Health Care Reconciliation
openleft.com 4/3/2009 — Let's play Democratic political strategist for a moment. Which of the following two options do you think would be more popular with voters? Is it:
Less expensive, more widely available health care delivered through a partisan legislative process ...
Time for Health Care Reform
njdc.org 6/15/2009 — Today, President Barack Obama gave a critical speech on health care reform to the American Medical Association in Chicago and said, “Today, we are spending over $2 trillion a year on health care—almost 50 percent more per person than the next most costly nation. And yet, as I think ...
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