Confused: did the Rs take their one shot at reconciliation for the year, or no?

[stopbush]

I am reading conflicting things.

Wikipedia says that Congress is allowed to PASS only one reconciliation bill per year, though under three different considerations. That would mean reconciliation is alive as an option for tRumpcare until something is PASSED.

However, other sources say that Congress may only CONSIDER one bill a year through reconciliation, and that once the bill has been put to a floor vote, that is it. Their chance is over.

Anyone know the answer?

[tblue37]

1. Yes. By allowing the skinny bill to reach the floor for a vote, Mitch used up

that reconciliation opportunity. After Oct. 1 they can do a reconciliation*, but they are saving that for their tax cut bill.

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* Because the new fiscal year starts 10/1. They had last year's reconciliation left over because they never passed a budget, so Mitch tried a slick maneuver to use last year's reconciliation to cut hundreds of billions from Medicaid so that money would be available for big permanent tax cuts, enacted by way of reconciliation, with no De m input at all.

To make the tax cuts permanent, they must be revenue neutral, which is why they needed major spending cuts in the healthcare bill. To get the odious healthcare bill passed with just 51 votes by way of reconciliation, it had to get done before Oct. 1, which is why Mitch was rushing so desperately.

[stopbush]

2. Do you have a source for that? It would be very helpful.

I'm getting into arguments on FB.

THANKS.

[tammywammy]

13. The bill hasn't reached the floor for a vote. All the votes last week were on amendments.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/floor_activity/floor_activity.htm

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1628

[tblue37]

3. FYI, I added more info about the situation to my original reply. nt

[stopbush]

4. I saw that. Does that mean they can try again before Oct 1?

[tblue37]

7. No. Because it reached the floor and got voted on, they have used up their one reconciliation for

this fiscal year. They couldn't get 51 votes for it, so they sure won't get the 60 they would need without reconciliation. Oh, they could try again to present a healthcare bill, but it would be an embarrassing waste of time, since they can't get 60 votes to pass it.

They MIGHT, though, try to get Medicaid turned into block grants to states, and that would destroy the ACA if they could get it passed (which I don't think the could).

[tammywammy]

5. The votes last week were on amendments to the House bill

https://www.congress.gov/amendment/115th-congress/senate-amendment/667

The repeal bill remains on the calendar and they can bring it up again.

[Voltaire2]

9. but not under reconciliation, so it would need 60 votes.

[tammywammy]

12. Incorrect, HR 1628 hasn't been voted on by the Senate

Only amendments to it have been. It remains on the calendar and can be brought up under reconciliation.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/floor_activity/floor_activity.htm

[Hortensis]

6. Fwiw, I don't know the technical stuff, but I "know" turtleface

well enough from reading to be sure he hasn't closed off any big options he can't do without. He knows congressional procedures backwards and forwards, and every other direction.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

8. My question is if they wait till the new FISCAL year will...

they have a tough choice (tough for the greedy) between Tax Cuts or ACA repeal for their one shot a reconciliation for the new FY???

[BigmanPigman]

10. They want us to be sick and penniless and will do anything they can to achieve that goal.

If we just die off they'd be thrilled. More food, air, and money for them and their friends and family.

The war is not over with the evil GOP. There are many battles, big and small, ahead so be ready to hunker down and keep resisting (it does work after all!). I am willing to bet that they can't even see their reflections. Maybe resisters and the Dems should wear necklaces of garlic. Is that for vampires?

The only thing that would guarentee the reduction of his base is a huge economic collapse. It has to personally and directly effect them.

[dawg]

11. We don't actually need much of a reduction to Trump's base.

He's already turning them against the GOP Congress. Are they likely to show up in droves in 2018 to support the likes of Paul Ryan? I think not.

The only question is whether we can get out *our* voters in a mid-term. (And a few former non-voters would be nice, too.)