Reconciliation – 2 More Votes To Go
The Senate finished its “vote-a-rama” early this morning (votes on all the B.S. amendments Republicans made to the reform reconciliation package). The Senate parliamentarian ruled for the Republicans on 2 points of order this morning.
Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Republicans consulting with the Senate parliamentarian had found “two minor provisions” that violate Congress’ budget rules. The provisions deal with Pell grants for low-income students.
Manley said those two provisions will be removed from the bill, and he expected the Senate to approve the measure and send it to the House. Manley said Senate leaders, after conversations with top House Democrats, expect the House to approve the revised measure.
Both chambers are hoping to begin a spring recess by this weekend.
NBC News reported that the Democratic leaders said the measures would not alter the policy or cost of the bill.
This means that the reconciliation needs 2 more votes to pass. The Senate is expected to vote today and then because the bill was changed, it has to go back to the House for a vote. Democratic leaders were hoping to avoid having to take another vote in the House, but assuming these changes are minor, they aren’t expecting problems with the re-vote. It will just give House Republicans more time to whine on camera.
I expect the media will play this as a huge win for the Republicans. Indeed, when I first saw the story this morning it was headlined “A Win for Republicans” and a short excerpt made it sound like the whole bill had been struck. Expect Republican happy dances all day long.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Reconciliation
Given the massive amounts of amendments Republicans are putting forth… did I miss the one where they demand the repeal of the Death Panels? Just sayin’
That’s a good question, pandora. I didn’t see a death panel amendment!
Just for the record – a vote of 60 Senators or a ruling by the president of the Senate (Joe Biden) could overcome the parliamentarian’s ruling. I certainly don’t think they’ll get 60 votes, but will Joe Biden overrule?
Despite all the huffing and puffing from the Republicans, the provisions struck by the parliamentarian have to do with the Pell Grant. They failed to do anything to change the health care reform bill. Gigantic fail by the Republicans.
But, since it has to go back to the House anyway…..
PUBLIC OPTION ANYONE????
Would that finally make Anonone happy?
It would make us all happy, but it wouldn’t make our corporate masters happy, so it won’t happen.
Well, there’s talk of a public option addition but if the House puts it in, it has to go to another Senate vote. We’ll see but I doubt it will happen. I think both the House and Senate want to get those approved changes voted and into law.
No, UI, I am talking about adding the PO now in the Senate Recon process (it is recon related) and then sending the Recon bill with the PO back to the House.
“Just for the record – a vote of 60 Senators or a ruling by the president of the Senate (Joe Biden) could overcome the parliamentarian’s ruling. I certainly don’t think they’ll get 60 votes, but will Joe Biden overrule?”
Biden overruling the parliamentarian would be a big F’ing deal, right?
DD, it’s too late to add the amendment now. The parliamentarian waited to rule on the points of order until after all the amendments had been added.
This did put a wrench in the Democrats’ plans because someone could have offered a PO amendment. But the Democratic plan was to offer no amendments and to allow none to be added because they were hoping that they could vote for the House bill intact.
Gotcha. Nevermind then.
Paul, if the House has the votes for the two fixes to the Pell grants, then you don’t need to use the Vice President. Having Biden overrule the parliamentarian is something you do if you have no other option.
Oops I was wrong DD, they are still considering a few amendments today so it is theoretically possible that a public option amendment could be offered, although it doesn’t seem likely.
David Waldman of Daily Kos and Congress Matters explains:
Yes, I think it’s unlikely that Biden would overrule the parliamentarian, that would just give more fuel to the GOP temper tantrum. Since the changes are so minor I don’t think the Democrats feel that another House vote is a problem.
This is a losing game for the Republicans, sour grapes don’t sell. Word of what the bill contains is getting out and in general people like it. Think I’ll call Castles office and rub it in.
Bamboozer, if you call, be sure to tell him you want him to vote “yes” on the reconciliation bill.
“Biden overruling the parliamentarian would be a big F’ing deal, right?”
[attempt at humor]
LOL.
I would half expect Castle to vote for the new reconciliation bill now, and then he can claim he voted for HIR.
oh boy, issues with Pell grant provisions. Strike a mark in the GOP column then! Fits their M.O. to keep ’em stupid, for it’s the only way to insure some of the non-wealthy to continue voting for their retarded platform.
Reading now that the House may pass the reworked reconciliation bill as soon as today.
The schedule I’m seeing is vote on the bill in the Senate around 2 PM, then the House starts debate, votes on rules for debate, then the amended bill. It could be over tonight folks!