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Don't Use Budget Process for Big Reform: GOP to Obama

Procedure would allow Democrats to pass agenda with 51 votes

By Gabriel Winant,  Newser User

Posted Mar 24, 2009 11:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – To circumvent a likely 60-vote minimum in the Senate for big-ticket bills like health reform, President Obama is considering pursuing proposals through a budgetary tactic known as reconciliation, where just 51 votes are needed and no filibustering is allowed. But Republicans are having none of it, Politico reports. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl warns that using the process would turn Obama’s agenda into a “purely partisan exercise.”

Moderate Democrats like Sen. Tom Carper are worried reconciliation would do “serious damage to our bipartisan effort.” But, the White House says, it’s just testing the waters. And the GOP wasn’t above using this tool under Bush. “It is interesting to see the views on reconciliation and how they’ve changed since, say, the Bush tax cuts in 2001,” says Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, left, talks with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. at a dinner for congressional committee heads at the White House, March 4, 2009.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, left, talks with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. at a dinner for congressional committee heads at the White House, March 4, 2009.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama leaves after his address to a joint session of Congress, Feb. 24, 2009.
President Barack Obama leaves after his address to a joint session of Congress, Feb. 24, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, looks on as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid meets with reporters on Capitol Hill, Feb. 25, 2009.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, looks on as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid meets with reporters on Capitol Hill, Feb. 25, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Jon Kyl looks on as Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill, March 10, 2009.
Sen. Jon Kyl looks on as Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill, March 10, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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It’s a big gamble. Because if you do it with no bipartisan buy-in at all, you own the whole thing politically. And they all well remember what happened in 1994, when there was a big blowback.
- Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 25, 2009 2:33 AM CDT
Amen.
Derni
Mar 24, 2009 7:10 AM CDT
Now they're worried that it will affect bipartisan work? Theygive Demovrats the single on bipartisan when the stilmulus package was voted on-forget about the Republicans-the party is dead-they appeal to the wealthy and the middle=class ignorant-and look at their leadership? oohh , sory , they have none-oh yes, Rush! The Conservative Republicans that take all our rights away and tell us how to live and what to do-they missed their calling-they're like people from a religious cult.
Snowleopard
Mar 24, 2009 6:29 AM CDT
true that.

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