Reconciliation Gaining Momentum to Pass Health Care

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

Senate Democrats have decided to forge ahead with health care reform using a process called reconciliation, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told Politico today.

Reconciliation would allow Democrats in the Senate to bypass a filibuster by passing a health care bill with just 51 votes.

Harkin reportedly said the House will first pass the Senate health care bill after the Senate has proven to House leaders there are enough votes to pass a reconciliation measure. After the House passes the Senate bill, both chambers will have to pass a separate reconciliation measure to "fix" the Senate bill.

Harkin announced the decision after meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as well as Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Since reconciliation may only be used on matters pertaining to the budget, it is unlikely Congress will be able to amend any provisions in the Senate bill relating to hot button topics like immigration or abortion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said yesterday that those issues are not central to the Democrats' goal of attaining accessible, affordable health care.

"This is not an immigration bill. It is not an abortion bill," she said. "It is a bill about affordable health care for all Americans."

It is likely the reconciliation measure will include new proposals from President Obama, such as giving federal authorities the power to limit health insurance rate increases.

President Obama this week sent a letter to Congress outlining some Republican ideas he wants to incorporate into the bill. The president will deliver remarks about how he wants to proceed with health care this afternoon.

On CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, defended reconciliation, saying that the procedure would only be used for "minor" issues with the bill.

The reconciliation bill, he said, "would be on sidecar issues designed to improve what passed the Senate and what would have to pass the House for health care reform to move forward."

Republicans have decried the process, even though it has been used in the past by both parties on a number of occasions.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Carl_Kelland March 6, 2010 10:55 AM EST: The bill sucks, as you Democrats will discover when you can't get in to see your doctor because he is occupied with obese indigent hypochondriacs who are over-using the system because they pay nothing for it. If this bill were structured intelligently -- with HSA's coupled with high-deductible insurance -- it might make sense. As it is, it will just push us closer to national bankruptcy.

This bill is not about "health care" by the way. It is about medical care. Health care promotes health, with healthy living patterns, diet, exercise, stress control and so forth. The sops thrown in this direction by the current idiot bill will do nothing about health care.; Reply to this comment


by Jason_Clearbrook March 4, 2010 12:55 PM EST: Obama is on a time schedule now. You want to know why? Simple: the test bed in Massachusetts just got hot. Their health care reform is the most similar thing out there we can compare ObamaCare to, and it is on the skids, folks. Massachusetts has the *highest* increases in healthcare costs since starting their Grand Experiment. The Governor was forced into enacting price freezes and the repercussions are now already starting to trickle in as people are being denied treatment left and right! NO need to worry about preexisting conditions getting in the way, No-sir-re-bob! We'll deny you on anything, even just GPs of we don't have the money! It is a fiasco of the grandest scale, and as it gets worse (I see pressures building there that will have to explode soon!) it Dooms ObamaCare, and rightfully so.

;'{P~~~; Reply to this comment


by freepress6 March 3, 2010 11:38 PM EST: Republicans won't have any better luck fighting Obama's health-care reform than they had trying to curb illegal immigration. Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress; Reply to this comment

by tmn March 3, 2010 2:20 PM EST

Democrats need to get up the *courage* to pass this bill. It is the right thing to do, just as Social Security and Medicare were the right things to do. History will show the US finally caught up with the rest of the industrialized world on medical coverage.

DO THE RIGHT THING - PASS THE BILL.

Reply to this comment


by cleantheDCcesspool March 3, 2010 2:45 PM EST: "Caught up with the rest of the industrialized world"??? The U.S. is quickly being dragged DOWN to the level of the rest of the socialized world. You really want to live in Armenia -- move there.


by jschmidt27 March 3, 2010 2:46 PM EST: History has already shown that medicare and SS are nearly bankrupt. Why would we create another social program that doesn't reduce health care costs, takes choice away from consumers, and will never stay within the estimates of the CBO. No social progrm has ever stayed within budget. This is a bad bill and the voters do not want it or the heavy handed actions of Obama and the Dems.


by GreatDepression March 3, 2010 2:01 PM EST: For my Proud Social Democrats, save and archive these Statistical facts:

From 1990 to 2009, Budget Reconciliation was used 22 times where 16 were used by the Republican Controlled Congress. More than 2/3 of the time! Republicans used Reconciliation on the 2nd Bush's 2003 Massive Tax Cut for those making more than 250,000/yr. Tax Cuts which touches the entire economy 100% in case Republicans claim reconciliation was never used for 17% of the Economy. Republicans also used Reconciliation on the Medicare Part D or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in 2005 which again touches the entire economy 100% with $125,000,000,000.00 per year free to the Drug companies. Medicare touches the entire Health Care economy just like this Health Care Reform.

Like with Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965, Republicans will fiercefully Protect and Defend this Health Care Reform within 1 second after President Obama signs the bill.; Reply to this comment


by jschmidt27 March 3, 2010 1:50 PM EST: Obama has brought out the white coats for his news conference. Are those the people who are suppossed to drag him away to the asylum?; Reply to this comment


by ThomasJeffersonLives March 3, 2010 1:43 PM EST: The Socialist Dream of controlling our health choices is getting closer to becoming a reality. Requiring all Americans to be insured??? What's next? Requiring all Americans to have annual physicals? If our kids are too fat, fining parents for feeding them the wrong foods? Etc... As a similar example, this is how it began with driving in California - need to have proof of insurance, must wear seatbelts and helmets, requiring hands free cellphone use, etc... Big MOMMY is going to make sure you're being GOOD whether you like it or not.; Reply to this comment

by mars7578 March 3, 2010 1:39 PM EST

Losing the Kennedy seat was the best thing to happen to the democratic party.They finally realized that core agreement must come before fringe positions.As the majority ,the dems have the responsibility to lead America out of this mess. It is true, the initial proposals by democratic leadership represented getting a piece of the pie rather realizing they are responsible for the whole meal.As feeble as this bill is ,the unification of the democrats and the ability to overcome gridlock is much more important.

Reply to this comment


by GreatDepression March 3, 2010 1:45 PM EST: mars7578

More Important than what you said about the Democrats which I agree somewhat is the Fact that with 41 seats in the Senate, the Republicans must show Leadership because they too now Own our Problems.

In last week Health Care Summit, they just made Political Sound Bites without much substance.


by GreatDepression March 3, 2010 1:36 PM EST: jschmidt27

Lazik Surgery is probably used by less than 1% of 1% of the population. As you stated, the Health insurance industry does not cover Lazik mainly because it is considered a Cosmetic and Glasses are still much cheaper for them. Yes, I can go to several specialists around my state for Lazik Surgery as for Plastic Surgery.

However, when I get very sick or in an Emergency, please take me to the Nearest Hospital/Doctor. Forget about shopping around for the best value Hospital/Doctor.

Where is the Free-Market Competition in Health Care?

For Americans lucky to have Private Health Care, 88% of them belong to an HMO whom determine your treatment and how much $ depending on the Profit Margin on that day.; Reply to this comment

by GreatDepression March 3, 2010 1:33 PM EST

Howellstephen7

The Biggest Mistake Conservatives can make is to Assume President Obama is Stupid and an Idiot after beating the White Hillary Clinton and John McCain machines.

Reply to this comment


by klgrube1 March 3, 2010 1:37 PM EST: Stupid or not, he's dangerous and trying to destroy this country. No one says he's not a master manipulator. But where he's trying to lead this country is nowere anyone wants to go.


by GreatDepression March 3, 2010 1:42 PM EST: klgrube1

53% voted for President Obama, can you respect that?

You are writing just sound pitches. Where are your Proofs or Evidences?