Will the Democrats pass a Health care bill without any Republican support?
Earlier this week, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat in the gang of six, told a town hall crowd that that he would support passing health care reform through reconciliation — a voting procedure for budget-related items that only requires a simple majority. Using reconciliation to pass health care reform would be a last resort of sorts for Democrats to turn to if they could not win any Republican votes. There is some debate as to whether major components of health care reform could be passed through the process, since Senate rules dictate that only budgetary items may be considered through reconciliation. Democrats have set October 15 as the date on which they may consider using reconciliation for health care reform. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday indicated reconciliation may be in the cards. At a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce meeting, the Democratic leader acknowledged the possibility of using the procedure but said it would only accomplish about 65 percent of
WASHINGTON – With control of the health care debate slipping from his grasp, President Barack Obama pitched his ambitious plan to both conservative talk radio and his own liberal supporters Thursday — and denied a challenge from one backer that he was “bucklin’ a little bit” under Republican criticism. Liberals were on the verge of revolt as Obama refused to say any final deal must include a government-run insurance option, while Republicans pressed their all-but-unified opposition to the White House effort. Obama, who will leave Washington Friday on vacation, said reason would prevail and it was no time to panic. “I guarantee you … we are going to get health care reform done. And I know that there are a lot of people out there who have been hand-wringing, and folks in the press are following every little twist and turn of the legislative process,” Obama told a caller to Philadelphia-based radio talk show host Michael Smerconish during a broadcast from the White House Diplomatic Rece
