Conrad: Health Care 'Dead' Unless House Passes Senate Bill First

[jefferson_dem]

Conrad: Health Care 'Dead' Unless House Passes Senate Bill First
Brian Beutler | February 24, 2010, 11:01AM

The Senate Democrats' top budget guy told reporters today that the Senate can't pass a reconciliation package tweaking a comprehensive health care bill unless the House passes the Senate bill first. And if the House won't do that, he says health care reform is "dead."

"The only way this works is for the House to pass the Senate bill and then, depending on what the package is, the reconciliation provision that moves first through the House and then comes here," said Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) outside the upper chamber this morning. "That's the only way that works."

I pointed out that House leadership has repeatedly said they won't take a flier on a reconciliation package--that they will only pass the Senate bill after the smaller side-car reconciliation bill has been all wrapped up.

"Fine, then it's dead," Conrad said.

Conrad added that he wouldn't personally make any promises or symbolic gestures to House members to assure them that the Senate can or will take any action in a reconciliation bill to address House concerns.

"I don't sign any blank check," Conrad said.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/conrad-health-care-dead-unless-house-passes-senate-bill-first.php

[rocktivity]

1. I'm really getting tired of this soap opera

"As The GOP Turns...My Stomach..."

:boring:
rocktivity

[LeftyAndProud60]

2. Wasn't there just a thread saying how close this was? I'll believe it when I see it? I'm tired of

all these people. I'm on the verge of never voting again in my life. I have no faith in any of these selfish assholes.

[Jennicut]

3. This is what Obama has to work with everyone.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

7. Yeah, but why can't Obama just make them do it and stuff???

[ProSense]

4. Yeah, why all the drama? The Hill:

Conrad: House has to pass Senate health bill first before fixes can be made

Using a majority-vote procedure on healthcare reform won't work unless the House passes the Senate's healthcare vote first, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said Wednesday.

Conrad, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, rejected the notion that the Senate could act first to pass a series of fixes to its original healthcare bill under budget reconciliation rules, saying the House had to act first.

"The only way this works is if the House passes the Senate bill first," Conrad told reporters. "Then a reconciliation bill starts in the House."

<...>

Conrad said that it'd be impossible for Congress to pass a bill under the budget reconciliation bill, which sidesteps the 60-vote threshold normally needed to end a filibuster and allows lawmakers to pass legislation with a simple majority, if the Congress hadn't passed some sort of legislation to reconcile.

<...>

[DevonRex]

5. Hell, we can't even stand listening to them anymore. Can you imagine

Obama trying to get these people to agree on ANYTHING? And these are OUR guys.

[Aramchek]

6. Ken's been full of shit for years.He has no say in this matter.

[tritsofme]

8. Um...where is he wrong here?

Or are we just venting?

[bigdarryl]

9. Here we go again with the same usual suspects derailing health care CORPORATE DEM'S