Ace of Spades HQ

February 12, 2010

Harkin: We're Going Ahead With Reconciliation
— Ace

As I always say, I don't know if this is real or just kabuki for the nutroots who desperately want to "win," no matter what "winning" might look like.

Hopefully the latter.

If it's the former -- again, it's my understanding that there are a lot of procedural votes that take place before the reconciliation vote, and those votes take 60 for closure.

Senate Democrats may go into the bipartisan health care reform summit later this month holding a legislative gun to Republicans' heads.
Some Democrats are readying a health care reform "Plan B" in case negotiations at the half-day televised forum on Feb. 25 go nowhere. The plan would involve passing part of the imperiled health care bill using reconciliation, a controversial procedural maneuver that would allow the package to pass with 51 votes, as opposed to the usual 60 required to overcome a filibuster.
"I think a decision has just been made Â— we're just going to go ahead" with a reconciliation bill, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told reporters.
A senior Democratic Senate aide clarified that Democrats are heading in that direction, though they are waiting to see what happens on Feb. 25 before making a decision.
Under the Plan B, the House would pass the version of the health care reform the Senate passed on Christmas Eve. From there, the Senate would use reconciliation to pass certain changes to the health care bill to keep it more in line with House Democrats' wishes. Finally, Congress would tackle other non-budgetary issues, like abortion funding, that cannot be addressed in the reconciliation process.

Ben Nelson has already threatened this crap, saying, basically, "Pass this the easy way by just voting for us or we'll go the hard way with this reconciliation."

To which I can only say, along with Ryan from the Office: I think I'm going to need you to go ahead and do it the hard way.

Dwight Schrute: Okay, I'm gonna need to search your car. Give me your keys.
Ryan Howard: I am not giving you my keys.
Dwight Schrute: Don't make me do this the hard way.
Ryan Howard: What's the hard way?
Dwight Schrute: I go down to the police station on my lunch break. I tell a police officer - I know several - what I suspect you may have in your car. He requests a hearing from a judge and obtains a search warrant. Once he has said warrant, he will drive over here, and make you give him the keys to your car, and you will have to obey him.
Ryan Howard: Yeah, let's do it that way.

Posted by: Ace at 12:33 PM | Comments (47)
Post contains 450 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Is that proverbial gun to the Republican's head..or their own?

Posted by: Luca Brasi at February 12, 2010 12:35 PM (YmPwQ)

2 Was there some kind of missile test today?

Posted by: Bugler at February 12, 2010 12:35 PM (YCVBL)

3 Leave the bill, take the canoli.

Posted by: joncelli at February 12, 2010 12:37 PM (RD7QR)

Awesome. This will keep this incredibly unpopular issue front and center between now and Election day.

Good plan, idiots.

Posted by: wiserbud at February 12, 2010 12:38 PM (IHbof)

5 Reconciliation? Never heard of such a thing.

Posted by: Charles Gibson at February 12, 2010 12:39 PM (6uiF7)

6 Sen. Harkin, AKA Capt. Ahab.

Posted by: Hammer at February 12, 2010 12:39 PM (5MUhk)

7 I need a drink.

Posted by: Max Power at February 12, 2010 12:41 PM (q177U)

8 Reconciliation is necessary. It's the only way for the American people to take in what's good for them---whether they like it or not. It's the only way to get rid of eight years of fascist Bush/Cheney politics.

Posted by: Madame Speaker Pelosi at February 12, 2010 12:41 PM (6uiF7)

9 They are bound and determined to insure their demise as a party.

Posted by: Jewells at February 12, 2010 12:41 PM (l/N7H)

10 Is it mathematically possible that the Republicans could have 60 votes in the Senate after November? If they pass this bill, it's almost assured that the Dems lose every Senate race on the table.

Posted by: jeff at February 12, 2010 12:42 PM (wKrBH)

11 Aren't they traditionally supposed to yell 'banzai' before doing something like this?

Posted by: nickless at February 12, 2010 12:42 PM (MMC8r)

12 Does this mean Billy Tauzin gets his job back?

Posted by: Hammer at February 12, 2010 12:43 PM (5MUhk)

13 Well, they've finally embraced the tactic of suicide bombing.

Posted by: nickless at February 12, 2010 12:44 PM (MMC8r)

I thought Obama wanted to listen to Republicans and so forth.

HE LIED.

Posted by: Jewells at February 12, 2010 12:45 PM (l/N7H)

15 >>>Is it mathematically possible that the Republicans could have 60 votes in the Senate after November? No, I think the maximum, even mathematically, is like 55.

Posted by: ace at February 12, 2010 12:46 PM (jlvw3)

16 LOl, oh yes, please proceed. It will be like watching a nasty nascar crash without the watching the race!

Posted by: Africanus at February 12, 2010 12:48 PM (ln1Xi)

Not exactly sure if the their holding a gun to the Republican's head or their own. I would have to say their own, going by the latest polls.

I'm not up on all the rules of reconciliation, but some of the stuff I have read, makes this not such an easy road to hoe. The Dems keep acting as if doing reconciliation is easy peasy lemon squeezy, have a few votes and poof it's done. They have to have it completed by April, all to do with the budget period. Republican's can waste a lot of time with admendments, forcing clouture votes on items that may not be "budgetary." The biggest drawback, is that whatever is created with 51 votes, can be repealed with 51 votes. No presidential veto override of 60. There is also the 5 year sunset clause, unless voted on to extend (just like the Bush tax cuts).

Not to mention the political ads that will write themselves for the mid-terms.

Posted by: Opus at February 12, 2010 12:49 PM (IebeI)

18 FUCK TOM HARKIN. Too damn tired and pissed off to be glib.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at February 12, 2010 12:53 PM (9Cooa)

19
I thought Obama wanted to listen to Republicans and so forth.

HE LIED.

Posted by: Jewells at February 12, 2010 04:45 PM (l/N7H)

As my dear mother said to me as a young boy, you lie to me and I will light your butt up like a taillight on a '46 Ford.

Posted by: Fish at February 12, 2010 12:54 PM (M5t+h)

20 Mathematically, 51 would be nice, it stops the kabuki music. Anything over 44 keeps the Maine sisters and a few others at bay.

My guess is what they are really threating with is: If you don't allow reconcilliation, America has to live with the senate bill, but thats a big gamble because the unions get hammered with that bill.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at February 12, 2010 12:54 PM (cpuvG)

They have to get 218 votes in the House first. Not going to happen.

No Dem who got less than 65% in 2008 will even consider it.

Lucky to top 160-175.

Posted by: Bob from Ohio at February 12, 2010 12:56 PM (ROFkf)

22 Bring it.

Posted by: RarestRX at February 12, 2010 12:57 PM (rmNST)

23 Sen. Harkin, AKA Capt. Ahab. 'Receiving the gavel from Reid, he advanced towards the Senate podium with the gavel uplifted in one hand, exhibiting the 2000 page bill with the other, and with a high raised voice exclaiming: "Whosoever of ye raises me a light-skinned African-American President with no Negro dialect and a set jug ears; whosoever of ye raises me that jug-eared President, with a mean slice to his golf swing- look ye, whosoever of ye raises me that same black male, he shall have this Healthcare Bill, my boys!"'

Posted by: Herman Melville at February 12, 2010 12:57 PM (AZGON)

24 Ezra Klein, Nate Silver, & Greg Sargent have been begging reconciliation to be used, offering to provide cover for the Dems, on the belief that they are going to get destroyed anyway, so why not pass it by any means possible and give the Dem Base at least one reason to still vote?

Posted by: Andrew Sullivan at February 12, 2010 12:58 PM (wnU1W)

25 The next time Tom Harkin is right about something will be the first (second, tops).

As always, the clue they won't go reconciliation is...they haven't.

If it was such a surefire path to Awesomeville they would have, you know, done it long ago.

Posted by: DrewM. at February 12, 2010 12:58 PM (9B5OK)

26 dammit! 26 was me.

Posted by: eddiebear at February 12, 2010 12:59 PM (wnU1W)

27 It's real.

Posted by: The Mega Independent at February 12, 2010 01:00 PM (Rr99p)

28 Yeah, go and do it, idiots. Even the GOP can't screw up when the election is already pre-nationalized for them: "REPEAL OBAMACARE!" Patty Murray, Barbara Boxer and Kristin Gillibrand will be working for NOW next January.

Posted by: Fresh Air at February 12, 2010 01:01 PM (1yI48)

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa

To paraphrase Thomas Frank (in more ways than one): What the fuck is wrong with Iowa?

Posted by: kev at February 12, 2010 01:02 PM (Zz0oZ)

30 Mind you, Michael Barone reported last week, when it was assumed this ridiculous bill was dead, that the Mediacrats were in the worst shape he has seen in 50 years. As Barone is one of the four men in this country who fully understands electoral mechanics (Sabato, Cook and Cost are the others), I would venture say they are completely screwed if they pass this.

Posted by: Fresh Air at February 12, 2010 01:03 PM (1yI48)

31 28 dammit! 26 was me.

Posted by: eddiebear at February 12, 2010 04:59 PM (wnU1W)

Sorry eddiebear, we have to credit Andrew Sullivan for that. Rules are Rules.

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at February 12, 2010 01:10 PM (Vu6sl)

32 I see two problems with this plan. One, I'll trust ace's count that 14 Dems Senators are up this year. Which 4 of them fall on their swords on final passage, given all the unexpected vulnerability we're seeing as polls are revealed? Two, how exactly do they get the House to pass the Senate bill as is when all those folks have to start campaigning in a month or two?

Posted by: Methos at February 12, 2010 01:11 PM (Xsi7M)

33 33: meh. That'll learn me

Posted by: eddiebear at February 12, 2010 01:15 PM (wnU1W)

34 Harry, Barry and Nancy have declared legislative jihad... there will be NO survivors... If we are not victorious, you are weak and don't deserve to retain your house and senate seats...

Posted by: phreshone at February 12, 2010 01:21 PM (1AnxB)

35 I always figured Eddiebear was Andrew Sullivan. It was the fuckety-fuck-fuck syntax

Posted by: Frank G at February 12, 2010 01:22 PM (4X0aT)

36 It's those metro areas in Iowa. The rural districts are redder than Utah.

Harkin thinks he's safe cuz he just got reelected. He will choose poorly. Probably thinks this is his combat mission over Vietnam (NOT!). You're still in the Phillipines, Tommy Boy.

And no, your tie doesn't make you look fat. Your face does.

Posted by: Jay in Ames at February 12, 2010 01:24 PM (UEEex)

37 Jay in Ames-- What's the deal with the DFL in Iowa. I know it's strong in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin. Always thought there was sort of a farmland Commie faction embedded out there. Never made sense to me. But how do you explain Harkin?

Posted by: Fresh Air at February 12, 2010 01:29 PM (1yI48)

38 Keep bleeping that chicken you bleeping bidens.

Posted by: Al at February 12, 2010 01:44 PM (0lyUI)

39 39 -- What 38 said, and the Dems in most ag states are always promising more subsidies, which considering the cost/profit margin farmers have been under is the only way they keep going (not that a lot of farmers didn't/don't act like a bunch of welfare queens anyway).

Posted by: unknown jane at February 12, 2010 01:44 PM (5/yRG)

40 I'm beginning to think that this deathcare crap is going to wind up being Mr. Unknown and I's "storming of the Bastille" moment. If the Republicans cave on any of these bills, even a little bit, any more -- then the American people are going to really, really have to take to the streets (sit down strikes, civil disobedience, the works -- recreate 68 indeed, just from the opposite side). Our freedom and the republic is at stake.

Posted by: unknown jane at February 12, 2010 01:47 PM (5/yRG)

41 It's the Democrat's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" moment. The fall will probably kill them.

Posted by: ahem at February 12, 2010 01:58 PM (LvZLQ)

How the heck can they pass this in the House without fixing the abortion issue? They're going to have to pick up some votes from the "no" group because they will lose at least two votes from the the "yes" group (Cao and Stupak). If they can't fix the abortion issue through reconciliation, how do they plan to pass the bill?

Posted by: jdp at February 12, 2010 02:04 PM (TvFdA)

43 I ain't believing any of this until I hear it from someone in the House leadership. Tom Harkin isn't exactly an authority here. Politico reports today that there is serious shit going on between Pelosi and the White House, and Pelosi ain't doing squat unless the White House can deliver the votes in the Senate. She doesn't seem to be inclined to do reconciliation because she knows it will probably cost her the Speakership. She likes being Speaker.

Posted by: rockmom at February 12, 2010 02:10 PM (w/gVZ)

44 This is just posturing. If the Democrats could pull this off, they wouldn't be talking about it, they'd already have done it.

Again, House members in districts at risk (which is a LOT of them) aren't going to blindly vote for the Senate bill (they wouldn't accept BEFORE the Scott Brown election), only to HOPE without any guarantee, that the final product after an as yet indeterminate fix will be acceptable to them.

>>"I think a decision has just been made Â— we're just going to go ahead" with a reconciliation bill, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told reporters.

Made by whom? Speaker of the House Pelosi has already said that she didn't think this can move forward.

But by all means, go ahead with that bill. You'll never get it passed, but at least you'll look like you are still working on *something*, which is the whole point of the exercise.

Posted by: looking closely at February 12, 2010 02:22 PM (KNy97)

I can't help but enjoy the idea of Pelosi and the White House giving each other the piles. More please -- I do so love to see them at each other's throats.

It could very well be another bit of theater, but I don't trust them -- they're just dead set on this issue (plus they're trying to sneak other nasty shit in under the radar by keeping this at the top of the page).

Posted by: unknown jane at February 12, 2010 02:25 PM (5/yRG)

Change the headline.....

Harkin: We're Going Ahead With Suicide

Posted by: Last Conservative In Brooklyn at February 12, 2010 04:04 PM (7uAeI)

47 Harkin has just gone full-on nutcase lately.

Posted by: Dashing Man Who Is Erudite at February 12, 2010 06:00 PM (3IT4k)

Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.

89kb generated in CPU 0.1951, elapsed 0.3419 seconds.
64 queries taking 0.318 seconds, 175 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.