Reconciliation Is Not What You Think

In the US Congress, reconciliation means that votes on bills are rushed, allowing little debate and no possibility of filibuster. It virtually eliminates change in any bill that passes using this procedure.

The White House requested that the 2010 Budget be passed under reconciliation rules because Obama’s health care proposal is included in that bill. The House Democrats just voted 227 to 196 to use those procedures and thus limit debate in both House and Senate. That means Obama and the Democrats will ram their version of health care down our throats whether we want it or not or whether or not they have the best possible version. I guess they learned from Hillary’s experience that if discussion and debate about controlling 20% of the economy were allowed, it wouldn’t pass.

They mean for this to pass in spite of the messages from last week’s Tea Parties. If this is government of the people, by the people, and for the people, Heaven help us.