Might Republicans inadvertently help Democrats get the reconciliation bill passed?

[Tom Rinaldo]

They filibustered normal order legislation that would have raised the debt ceiling. If they hold firm to that position (or try to drive too hard a bargain in order to win enough of their votes to shut down a filibuster) it seems like the reconciliation process will become the only route left to keep the United States from defaulting on its debts. If raising the debt ceiling ends up in the reconciliation bill, it instantly becomes must pass legislation for all Democrats as time is running out on any other solution. It seems that if Schumer and Pelosi make a good faith effort to craft a bill that constitutes a reasonable compromise to the impasse that the reconciliation bill is currently mired in, that Democrats of every stripe, in both chambers, would be left with no choice but to back it to prevent the U.S. from defaulting. What am I missing here?

[Ollie Garkie]

1. Makes sense ..

And yet ..too good to be true

[drray23]

2. indeed. I pointed that out a few days ago on another thread.

It's a perfect opportunity to stymie the pathetic attempts of the moderates in the senate at killing it.

[tritsofme]

3. I've seen conflicting reports, but it sounds like a third reconciliation measure could move

without amending the current resolution, as long as its scope was limited to the debt ceiling.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. These are the type of arcane weeds that I get lost in

Thanks for addressing this possibility. Such a bill would have to be drafted and on the floor of both houses in near record setting time with no amendments possible in either chamber. If I remember correctly Democrats only get a very limited number of chances per legislative year to take a bite at the reconciliation apple. Even if possible it could be a real waste to use one up on a basic stand alone measure like the debt ceiling, unless it is a parliamentary "freebie" to use reconciliation in that way.

Even if a separate reconciliation effort could possibly be launched later, it would put pretty much any Democrat into a very uncomfortable position to vote against raising the debt ceiling should Democratic leadership decide to insert that provision into the current reconciliation bill now being debated.

[Roy Rolling]

5. Two words

Pelosi and Biden. Who knows more about the legislative process than those two?

This is when experienced legislators now in positions of power won’t be outsmarted by right-wing knuckle-draggers. But I’m hoping they’ll use the big stick that comes with their position soon, but speak softly while they do it.

[ColinC]

6. Or make a fillibuster exception as must pass legislation

And throw in voting rights and everything else as well.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. If it's true there will be a vote on the infrastructure act but not reconciliation act on Thursday

I sure as hell hope that Democratic leaders are in negotiations right now over revisions to the original Build Back Act at least grudgingly acceptable to all AND that the plan is to then add a debt ceiling amendment to that act which will then be one bill to be passed through reconciliation before the U.S. defaults. I simply do not trust the so called moderate obstructionist Democrats in Congress to act in good faith to pass President Biden's agenda through Congress later if the Build Back Better Act does not include a must pass amendment to lift the debt ceiling.

Even Kyrsten Sinema (but more importantly her corporate backers) will not want to be identified as responsible for the U.S. economy cratering in response to a global default on America's currently still good credit. At a certain point the clock runs out on lifting the debt ceiling. At a certain point it is too late to start the ball rolling on a different version of a reconciliation bill. If raising the debt limit is part of the Build Back Better Act, and if the last train is about to leave the station should it be voted down, that gives President Biden Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi all the leverage they need to secure passage of a reasonably fair compromise version of the original proposal.