Reconciliation

[bu villain]

I agree this is the largest reconciliation effort yet but this is not that new proceduraly. The reconciliation process has been used to pass reforms on medicare, medicade, social security and childrens health services by both republicans and democrats for 30 years. I guess no one remembers COBRA.

So my beef is two fold:
1. Filibustering is BS (which is the only reason reconcilliation has to be used in this way to begin with).
2. I never heard any complaints about it before like when it extended Bush tax cuts or made other large changes to health care laws.

Also, you never answered my question. Do you think we should require 60 votes to pass anything through the senate?

[BanginJimmy]

I agree this is the largest reconciliation effort yet but this is not that new proceduraly. The reconciliation process has been used to pass reforms on medicare, medicade, social security and childrens health services by both republicans and democrats for 30 years. I guess no one remembers COBRA.

So my beef is two fold:
1. Filibustering is BS (which is the only reason reconcilliation has to be used in this way to begin with).
2. I never heard any complaints about it before like when it extended Bush tax cuts or made other large changes to health care laws.

I will start by saying that I dont agree with the process in ANY circumstance. For MANDATORY budget bills, I think that if a new bill cannot be signed into law by Oct.1, then the previously approved budget should be extended for another year.

I agree that the filibuster is BS, but I also think the legal bribery that goes on is also BS.

Previous reconciliation efforts, by both parties, were for changes to existing laws. This is a massive restructuring of 1/6th of our entire economy, and by the way, it is going to cost 200B+ a year on the low end.

Also, you never answered my question. Do you think we should require 60 votes to pass anything through the senate?

Those are the rules of the Senate and I have no problem with them. It is done purposely to make it more difficult to get bills through the Senate as at 1 time, senators were appointed, not elected.