Democrats are so desperate to pass Obamacare that they have quietly set up the necessary procedures to use the so-called "nuclear option."
This is an admission by the Democrats that they do not have the popular support needed to pass Obamacare by the usual Senate rules.
The Democrats' unreasonable attempt to pass Obamacare as a “budget reconciliation” measure means the Democrats think they can get away with ending the long-standing Senate tradition of requiring a super majority to end debate on something as controversial as the Democrats proposed government takeover of the Health care industry.
Under reconciliation, the Obamacare legislation can theoretically be passed by a simple majority vote in the Senate -- just 51 instead of 60 votes.
The bill the Democrats have certified for “reconciliation” is H.R. 3200 that was passed out of committee before the August break, and caused such outrage at town hall meetings across the country as voters learned what was in the House bill: federal funding of abortion, coverage for illegal aliens, comparative effectiveness councils, and deep cuts to Medicare.
If the Democrats go down this unfortunate path, it will bring the Senate to a standstill. The Republicans will be forced to try and shut down the Senate and prevent consideration of all routine and legislative Senate business or become irrelevant until they regain control of the Senate. Then of course there will be the unavoidable tit for tat and the will be powerless.
The Democrats bemoan what they wrongly claim is obstruction. But all the Democrats had to do was keep Obama's many now broken promises to conduct health care reform in a transparent manner and work out a bipartisan proposal. Instead, most Congressional Democrats decided they wanted an extreme Obamacare proposal that they can't get the Senate to pass by the usual rules.
The Democrats chose to use extraordinary procedures to pass extreme measures rather on proposing "reform" measures that would be so popular the Public, and maybe more Senate Democrats, would insist on passage.
Comments
"...But all the Democrats had to do was keep Obama's many now broken promises to conduct health care reform in a transparent manner and work out a bipartisan proposal..."
come on, even you were laughing when you wrote that...the Party Of No, bipartisan????? the party of no had their chance to input into healthcare reform...that invitation to bipartisanship is long past...so, OUT THE WAY, WE'S DRIVING OFF WITHOUTCHA.
Who is afraid of allowing everyone access to a health plan which is independent of the insurance industry? Of course, ...The Insurance Industry. I know. I used to work for it. Everything else is just smoke.
The mandate given to the Democrats to reform health care requires a strong public option. It is strange that only the House is following through on this very real mandate.
Given the hope Pres, Obama planted, he needs to step up and get it in the Reid plan now before all that new voting block begins to tune out or perhaps go Green. But if not, hell nuclear option...it has been used for causes with a much smaller mandate.
President Obama/Sen Reid THE TIME FOREE ACTION IS NOW
Didn't the Republicans use the reconciliation procedure for a number of tax bills when they had the majority?
Didn't they also try to use it to permit drilling in ANWR, even though they didn't have even 50 votes for that?
These are rhetorical questions, of course. You and I both know that they did.
The Party of No "had their chance to input?" Come on now! The Republicans have come up with some decent ideas -- the Democrats don't want to listen. This is their baby and they are looking for a big win for their party. It isn't about these two parties anyway -- it is about the American people and how we are all going to be in the tank of debt! Yes, we need reform but not to the extent of bankrupting every one of us! And I don't want Reid or Pelosi involved in the decision-making -- they are the worst offenders of this "win for the party" mentality!
Examiner Reader says:
"The Party of No "had their chance to input?" Come on now! The Republicans have come up with some decent ideas"
stop the lies,stop the lies,stop the lies!
I'm tired of it!
Republicans have come up with s%%% ideas. EVERY idea that they have come up with is set up to protect insurance companies interest and profits! EVERY SINGLE ONE! YOU might be blind to their selling out the people and protecting the insurance companies and that is why I question your intelligence. IT IS GLARINGLY APPARENT that they have sold out the public's interest for money from the insurance companies. WHY CAN'T YOU SEE IT?????
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