Saturday, January 16, 2010

Dems threaten to use Reconciliation if Brown wins



The Democrats are clearly on a suicide mission when it comes to health care reform.

From Bloomberg:
 Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Even if Democrats lose the Jan. 19 special election to pick a new Massachusetts senator, Congress may still pass a health-care overhaul by using a process called reconciliation, a top House Democrat said.
That procedure requires 51 votes rather than the 60 needed to prevent Republicans from blocking votes on President Barack Obama’s top legislative priorities. That supermajority is at risk as the Massachusetts race has tightened.
“Even before Massachusetts and that race was on the radar screen, we prepared for the process of using reconciliation,” said Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
“Getting health-care reform passed is important,” Van Hollen said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” airing this weekend. “Reconciliation is an option.”
Using reconciliation would likely force Democrats to scale back their health-care plans. The procedure is designed to make deficit-cutting easier by reducing the number of votes needed to pass unpopular tax increases and spending cuts. Lawmakers can’t include policy changes that the parliamentarian deems have only an “incidental” connection to budget-cutting, and senators would need 60 votes to override those rulings.
This is every bit as bad as not seating Scott Brown if he wins. The idea that going over the heads of voters like that is pretty alarming. I think if the Democrats do this, they risk pushing voter outrage beyond the brink. I also wonder if after a Scott Brown victory will there still be 51 Democrats willing to defy the American people like that?  As it is, I cannot help but imagine that there are more than just a few Democrats secretly praying for a Scott Brown victory so that they could have half an excuse to walk away from this awful piece of legislation.

Via: Bloomberg

21 comments:

The Griper said...

and what would universal health bill be if not an incidental connection to budget cutting? how can adding a program of this size be considered as a budget reducing bill?

Fuzzy Slippers said...

This is completely unreal. I can't imagine that they would push that far, I mean what are they thinking? Don't they FEEL the anger, the outrage? Don't they know that if they do something this insane that there is a very real possibility of pushing the people over the brink as you say? They are playing with some pretty serious fire, and they are the only ones who are going to get burned. I'm completely baffled by their blind disregard for the people of the country. Is this still a representative government or has something shifted? I'm very concerned.

Liz said...

It appears democrats can get away with anything and everything. I know people who have no idea about anything that is going on.

@eloh said...

Off subject:

Why isn't anyone writing about Scott Ritter?

Just Me said...

I really do think that if Brown wins and the Dems aidestep, there will be an explosion. I even think this administration is secretly preparing for it. One really has to wonder why there seems to be push from our government to start a war in this country. It just doesn't make sense.

Elizabeth McKenzie said...

Fuzzy is mimicking the sentiments of every sane American. There are not words for the emotions this is stirring in people. It goes beyond anger, bewilderment, outrage, frustration, those are two cent words. The good ten cent words haven't been invented yet. The only reaction one can have is open mouthed horror.

Just a conservative girl said...

I have come to the conclusion that we are better off if it passes this way. I don't understand all of it, but there are many, many things that will not be able to be included. The bill will have be stripped way down, AND it will only be good for five years.

By the time it comes up for renewal, we will have different leadership in the Congress and God willing in the oval office.

Yes, I realize that paying the taxes will suck, but I will be happy to pay the extra taxes for a few years to keep this becoming a permanent thing.

Larry Sheldon said...

This is not sausage-making.

This is not law-making.

This is sewer-plant operation.

Ron B said...

There is still another chance this can pass though highly unlikely. The House could just adopt the Senate version of the bill and send it to the President.

@justaconservativegirl
Have you ever seen any government program undone? If this passes it will become law, the chances of any future Congress changing or rescinding this law will be highly unlikely since no power broker will want to be the one to stand in front of the entitlement class of Americans and say I am taking away your government healthcare.

Patricia said...

Is it possible that this administration wants a revolution in this country so they can declare martial law.

It a frightening thought that they really want to bring about the downfall of America

Clifton B said...

The Griper:

If our media was actually acting as watchdogs, that little fact would have been terribly apparent from day one.

Clifton B said...

Fuzzy:

The left have put themselves between a rock and a hard place. By their actions they are now left with on 2 very unpleasant choices. A. abandon the dream of socialized medicine forever {they will never be given that chance again} or B. Risk defying the people to the point of revolt.

My fear is that the Dems think Americans are like Europeans and that we will merely grumble then get use to it. They could not be more wrong. Americans are like wild Mustangs, we don't take well to being ridden and then we buck HARD!

Clifton B said...

Liz:

I am amazed at how so many people are still so uninformed. During these unprecedented times, just to a quick Google Trends search and you will see all the vacuous bullshit people are searching for. Wake up people, the foxes have long been in the hen house!

Clifton B said...

@eloh:

I did read about the creepy pervert, but have not been following up. Any new developments?

Clifton B said...

Just Me:

It does seem like we are being pushed to the breaking point. A revolt would give then yet another crisis to capitalize on.

Clifton B said...

Elizabeth McKenzie:

You are right Fuzzy does touch on it. It is so hard to imagine that people cannot see the hot burning anger out there. Although whenever I trip over to lefty land, I notice they too seem pretty bind to it as well.

Clifton B said...

JACG:

Oh it won't go away that easily. The Compassion Pimps will see to that. Plus 5 years worth of taxes paid and no show. If this thing isn't killed right here and right now, the only way it gets repealed is with a massive house cleaning that must be done by 2012.

Clifton B said...

Larry Sheldon:

This is sewer-plant operation.

Perfect description!

Clifton B said...

Ron B:

Having the House accept the Senate version as is, is a tall order. I think if Brown and pull it out, it will be the perfect excuse for perhaps enough Dems to walk away from it.

Clifton B said...

Patricia:

This administration and Congress is risking that every time when they employ these underhanded tactics. The other problem is people will find the laws unjust and stop following them. Should that happen, the very fabric of America will be torn.

@eloh said...

It just seems to be a good case of the Dems poster child for who they have put in chagre of the cookie jar.

Background checks seem to be a thing of the past along with common decency.

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