Why Reconciliation is Essentially Impossible

[Crabcake Johnny]

FOXNews.com - Republicans Gird for Democrats' End Run on Health Care

Under the limitations of reconciliation, items like prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges or preventing lifetime caps on insurance are not covered under reconciliation.

 

[Mr_Ed]

FOXNews.com - Republicans Gird for Democrats' End Run on Health Care

Under the limitations of reconciliation, items like prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges or preventing lifetime caps on insurance are not covered under reconciliation.

hmmm, sounds like healthcare reform is dead.
Where have I read that before?

 

[Winter_123]

hmmm, sounds like healthcare reform is dead.
Where have I read that before?

The discussion is simply around reconciliation. You are reading too much into it.

 

[0b1kanobee]

I just saw on TV an interview with the former person who decided whether things up for reconciliation go through or not. It took him 14 years from the time he was appointed to have that postion before the guy that's there now.

Anyway, he says ultimately the Vice President has the decision as to what gets approved through reconciliation or not. That of course is Joe Biden. I wish I remember that guys name on the news but maybe someone else got it.

 

[somarco]

Vice President has the decision as to what gets approved through reconciliation or not

.

Not so.

VP of US is the ex-officio President of the Senate and only votes in the case of a tie.

 

[djs]

People really miss the whole point about reconciliation, or rather, should stuff pass by simple majority?

This is a personal opinion, not a statement of fact... except my opinions are facts to me!

I'm a big fan of needing a 60% vote to do almost anything that impacts over 90% of the people. I've always felt this is a good thing, regardless (almost) of the topic at hand. 60% means the proposal, whatever it is, has to be a lot more middle of the road than what 50% means.

60% means that there is a lot more diversity in the acceptance of the solution. 50% is simple majority rules.

Good things can easily get 60%.

60% represents more of an overall concensus, rather than just bribing and threatening on a bad bill.

60% makes it almost impossible to use bribery (aka Cornhusker Kickback style) to get votes. Bad bills will cost to much, making more vote against it.

Unfortunately, politics being what it is, has led us to a situation where Washington (and Sacramento) wants nothing to do with building a concensus, they want blood. Both parties are very guilty of this.

Dan
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I'm thinking it might be moot rather than being silent or not having the ability to talk.

Rick

Moot would basically mean it was not relevant. I disagree with that. Mute would mean nobody was talking about it, which is what Harry said (aka, silent).

 

[0b1kanobee]

.

Not so.

VP of US is the ex-officio President of the Senate and only votes in the case of a tie.

I'm just saying what that guy said on the news. He specifically said that the vice president has the power to overide what the guy that views the reconciliation says/does. He said it hasn't been done since Herbert Humpfry though. Nobody knows more about reconciliation than that guy. He studied it for 14 years after being appointed before he could even 'be the man'. The news anchors were shocked as they had never even heard this before. It sounded crazy to me but he says it is entirely possible Biden could overide.

 

[Dave020]

Triple-H! "Hubert Horatio Humphrey". Served as VP under LBJ.

 

[Winter_123]

.

Not so.

VP of US is the ex-officio President of the Senate and only votes in the case of a tie.

That is true in regard to Constitutional duties and actual floor votes but the Senate has given the Vice President the power to rule on parliamentary issues, even overruling the Senate parliamentarian if needed. Thus he could overrule the parliamentarian if the he decides that certain issues cannot be enacted through reconciliation.

It's complicated and some of it is uncharted but he does have authority in that area.

 

[Mr. Bill]

Given that Jobiden has apparently completed his separation treatment of his brain from his body, that is very dangerous, indeed.