Updated: Dems could fast track Obama's budget; GOP worried

[ProSense]

Dems could use controversial 'fast track' for Obama legislation

From Ted Barrett
CNN Congressional Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A key Democratic senator said Tuesday that he's not ruling out a controversial budget procedure to speed passage of President Obama's health care and global warming legislation.

"It could happen," said Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, despite his repeated concerns that doing so would damage bipartisan cooperation in the Senate.

The fast-track procedure -- called "reconciliation" -- would prevent Republicans from filibustering the health care and global warming bills, which Baucus' committee helps write.

<...>

Baucus said reconciliation is not his first -- or second -- choice, but added, "I'm not flat opposed to it either."

Baucus is the second key Senate Democrat in two days to suggest the procedure might be used to pass the policy reforms over GOP objections.

On Monday, Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, suggested he might not be able to prevent the adoption of reconciliation. Like Baucus, Conrad has spoken out against using the method to move major reform bills.

more

Updated to add:

Reconciliation Watch: GOP Getting Worried

By Jefferson Morley 4/1/09 3:08 PM

All 41 Republican senators have signed an open letter asking Democratic leadership not to use the filibuster-proof reconciliation process to pass health care reform, a sure sign that the threat of reconciliation, which would allow the Senate to pass a health care reform bill with 51 votes instead of 60–issued again yesterday by Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius—is working for the Democrats.

The Weekly Standard (PDF) has the letter, which includes the usual minority party talking points: Reconciliation “would be a tremendous disservice to the country” that would “restrict the ability of Senators to amend and perfect” a health care plan, and so on.

The reality is that faced with possible exclusion from health care negotiations, GOPers have to at least pretend to be open to compromise. The threat imposes a choice: If Republicans don’t want a simple majority vote, then two more Republicans have to show they are serious about “amending and perfecting” health care by making real concessions and signing on to an Obama plan. Then the threat goes away—and the country gets health care reform. If all the Republicans choose the partisan route (as they did on the stimulus bill) then guess what? They’ll get the dreaded partisanship of a simple majority vote on health care—and the country gets health care reform.

Either way, Obama wins. Which is why Republicans are objecting more and more.

[AtomicKitten]

1. Just do it.

[Hippo_Tron]

2. Threatening reconciliation is a good idea even if you don't use it

It might convince a few Republicans to come running over and give us their votes for table scraps. Better than getting nothing.

[ProSense]

3. See update in OP. n/t

[Beetwasher]

4. WAHHH!!!

:rofl:

[Cha]

5. Love reality..

"The reality is that faced with possible exclusion from health care negotiations, GOPers have to at least pretend to be open to compromise. The threat imposes a choice: If Republicans don’t want a simple majority vote, then two more Republicans have to show they are serious about “amending and perfecting” health care by making real concessions and signing on to an Obama plan. Then the threat goes away—and the country gets health care reform. If all the Republicans choose the partisan route (as they did on the stimulus bill) then guess what? They’ll get the dreaded partisanship of a simple majority vote on health care—and the country gets health care reform."

[WI_DEM]

6. When did they cooperate with us when we were in the minority? Just do it!!!!!!

To the victor goes the spoils. Tough luck to the minority.

[DrToast]

7. F them! Stop filibustering every damn thing

[redqueen]

8. Hope everyone's signed and forwarded Dean's petition.

http://standwithdrdean.com/

[uponit7771]

9. reThugs have used the reconcilation route for RayGuns & Bush's tax cuts and a whole slew of

...crap that shouldn't be done with the American dollar....the scream....no on listens.

[Zodiak]

11. Yes, the pukes us reconciliation every time they could

But now, apparently, the use of it is "controversial" according to the article.

Fucking bullshit media....as if we do not notice how differently they describe Democratic actions versus Republican ones.

[Hope And Change]

10. K & R!Thanks for posting!