Reconciliation Watch: White House Keeps Up Pressure (on Democrats)
Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag kept up the pressure on Senate Republicans over the weekend by continuing to raise the possibility that
Jul 31, 202031.4K Shares541.4K Views
Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag kept up the pressure on Senate Republicans over the weekend by continuing to raise the possibility that the White House may use the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process to pass comprehensive health care reform if the Republicans don’t show more flexibility.
While Orszag singled out the Republicans, the threat actually applies equally, if not more, toSenate Democrats like Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) who keep saying (Fridayand today, respectively) that they oppose the use of reconciliation — which would allow passage with a straight majority vote, rather than the usual 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster and end debate – to pass major legislation. As Jonathan Chait at The New Republicnotes, at this point, it is Senate Democrats who are undermining President Obama’s agenda more effectively than Republicans.
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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