Dumb question: could the Republicans pass AHCA with less than 50 votes...

[Girard442]

If one or more Democratic senators were...ummmm....indisposed?

[Eyeball_Kid]

1. Nothing is unthinkable.

[left-of-center2012]

2. I think it requires 51 votes

Which might be 50 plus V.P Pence.

If all the Democrats were "indisposed", a vote of 51 would still pass the bill.
If I'm wrong I'm sure I will be corrected.

[onenote]

3. You'd need three senators to be unavailable or abstain

To pass it 49-48. If two were unavailable or abstained you could end up 49-49 and pence would break the tie.

[Girard442]

5. Unavailable.

[onenote]

8. whether a senator is unavailable or abstains, the effect is the same

And if only Senator is unavailable or doesn't vote, it would still take 50 aye votes to pass it.

[beachbum bob]

4. 51 votes is required to pass legislation with VP casting vote in 50-50 tie

[onenote]

7. No. A majority of a quorum is required

A quorum is 51. Theoretically a bill could pass 26-25.

[unblock]

9. technically, it's possible even with fewer than that.

a quorum is presumed to be present unless there's a roll call vote or a quorum call.

[onenote]

10. True, but that's an extremely unlikely scenario

unless there is no one opposing the bill.

[unblock]

11. agreed -- maybe it's possible with only one senator opposing

i'm guessing a motion for a quorum call would need to be seconded.


actually, it makes me wonder, couldn't the majority leader (maybe in cooperation with the veep if necessary) call an emergency session in the middle of the night and conduct official business solo, at least until other senators figure out what's going on?

[onenote]

12. No second is needed for a quorum call

All it takes is one senator to "suggest the absence of a quorum" and the presiding officer is required to call the roll.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. How are they going to "indispose" senators?

[treestar]

13. Question: why don't the Democrats

filibuster so that they need 60 votes?

[Codeine]

14. The bill is being done under special budget rules

that allow passage with a basic majority.

[treestar]

15. Thx