A healthcare deadline... Done Deal

[Perky]

It's been in the works for a while and now, according to senior Capitol Hill staffers, it's a done deal: The final budget resolution will include a "reconciliation instruction" for health care. That means the Democrats can pass health care reform with just 50 votes, instead of the 60 it takes to break a filibuster.

The deal was hatched late afternoon and last night, in a five-hour negotiating session at the office of Senate Majoriy Leader Harry Reid. A trio of White House officials were there: Rahm Emanuel, Peter Orszag and Phil Schiliro. Also present, along with Reid, were House Budget Chairman John Spratt and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad.

The reonciliation instruction specifies a date. That date, according to one congressional staffer, is October 15. (The original House reconciliation instruction had a late September deadline.)

In other words, the House and Senate each have until that day to pass health care legislation.

If they haven't, then both houses will consider health care under the reconciliation process, which is relevant primarily for the way it affects the Senate. There will be a limit on the time of debate. Republicans won't be able to filibuster it.

So there's still a chance for bipartisanship, which is what both Obama and Democratic leaders want — or, at least, what they say they want. But if bipartisanship doesn't work, then Dems can pass this on their own. They won't even need Ben Nelson.

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_treatment/archive/2009/04/24/reconciliation-now-has-a-date-october-15.aspx

[vaberella]

1. Oh my Fucking God....Really?! A slither of light in all this darkness.

Thank you, I'm so glad.

[ProSense]

2. Democrats Agree to Fast Track for Health Care Revamp

Democrats Agree to Fast Track for Health Care Revamp

[Beetwasher]

3. WOOOOFUC KINGHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Perhaps the Congressional Dems ARE capable of learning! Why include the Repubs when they will only obstruct? Their obstruction is a given, so fuck 'em.

[The River]

4. Great But,

What will the health care reform look like?
More of the same with a new name won't cut it.
Single payer is what I'd like to see but wouldn't
bet on it.
2 years from retirement and newly unemployed
I'm one illness away from falling through the cracks...again.
Sure hope the cancer I had doesn't return.
Guess I'd better order a few more truckloads of "hope"
to see me through.

[DrToast]

6. Single payer would be nice...

But as long as there is a public option, I'll consider it a victory. If there isn't a public option, I doubt there will be very much reform.

[Lugnut]

8. I'm keeping my powder dry.

There will be no celebration on this end until I see exactly what that "health care reform" thing really means.

[truedelphi]

15. Your post pretty much stands in for what I would have written

And I am sure a whole bunch of other DU'ers are pretty much here with us as well.

Though thankfully I am not worried about cancer recurring, but do have other health worries.

If they simply plan to fast track what the health insurers want, we are so screwn.

[Hieronymus]

5. Thank God.

[firedupdem]

7. Great News...now we need to ride their asses to get it done...n/t

[NancyG]

9. Oh, happy day! I just want to be able to buy into Medicare. nt

[ItNerd4life]

10. I don't like this at all!

This is too major of the issue to do this with.

Imagine, just imagine Republicans gaining back control of congress. They can then use this as a precident
and roll back everything in their own version of healthcare because Democrats weren't bipartisan, so they don't have to be.

We lose the moral and high ground by doing this. It's the moral and high ground that help get us back into control.

If rolls were reversed and Repukes did this, everybody on DU would be furious. But it's okay for us to do it?

[mvd]

12. You can also look at it like the Repukes were..

far worse than we have been, even with this move. The Republicans are such obstructionists that something has to be done.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. lol...the Republicans DID do this.

They forced through their bullshit legislation with reconciliation votes several times.

[yowzayowzayowza]

16. Repubz are given six months to come to the table.

Should they fail to compromise, the moral high ground is ours to get something done.

[Honeycombe8]

18. Errr.... you ARE aware that the Repubs DID do this or similar things?

Right? You know your history, right? I mean, you're not just watching the fake broadcasts on Fox, are you?

The difference: FIRST, there will be an attempt to create a bipartisan bill. With meetings with the Republicans, etc. Things that the Republicans did NOT do with the Democrats (Dems were regularly not included in meetings on proposed bills, and certainly their considerations were not taken into account in drafting those bills. By the Republicans' own admission, that was the case. They were proud of it.)

Bush: We welcome our opponents cooperation; if they agree to come along, then that's our preference. (I'm paraphrasing, of course. But that's his way of saying, "My way or the highway.")

Cheney to Sen. Chafee right after election: Here's what we're going to do (and tells Chafee). Chafee says something like, but the Democrats and the moderate Republicans will object to parts of that, those are big shifts in policy, we'll need debate on it. Cheney's response: We won. We have a mandate. This is what we're going to do...everyone else be damned, even moderate Republicans.

[mvd]

11. Great news!

K&R

[JimWis]

14. Good news. Thanks for sharing.

[Honeycombe8]

17. Stand back, people!!!! The Obama Train is comin' thru!!!!!

Geez Louise, he's moving fast on his "vision"!

This is great news. Really, really great. One of the TOP issues in the country: Healthcare. The system is ruining us all.