A wrench in Dems’ Wreckonciliation plans, but…

By Michelle Malkin  •  March 11, 2010 04:50 PM


Photoshop: Leo Alberti

Some cold water thrown on the cramdown, ram-through, promise-we’ll-amend-it-later plans of the Democrat ruling majority. Curses, foiled again:

The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that President Barack Obama must sign Congress’ original health care reform bill before the Senate can act on a companion reconciliation package, senior GOP sources said Thursday.

The Senate Parliamentarian’s Office was responding to questions posed by the Republican leadership. The answers were provided verbally, sources said.

House Democratic leaders have been searching for a way to ensure that any move they make to approve the Senate-passed $871 billion health care reform bill is followed by Senate action on a reconciliation package of adjustments to the original bill. One idea is to have the House and Senate act on reconciliation prior to House action on the Senate’s original health care bill.

Information Republicans say they have received from the Senate Parliamentarian’s Office eliminates that option. House Democratic leaders last week began looking at crafting a legislative rule that would allow the House to approve the Senate health care bill, but not forward it to Obama for his signature until the Senate clears the reconciliation package.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved Thursday to put Senate Republicans on the defensive over health care, sending a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in which he dared the GOP to vote against reform.

Reid also defended the Democrats’ use of reconciliation to get a final health care reform bill to the president’s desk, noting that the bulk of health care reform was approved under regular order via the package that cleared the Senate on Christmas Eve. Reid also emphasized that Republicans have used the procedure several times over the years.

But hey, noooooobody’s talking reconciliation, right, Harry?

***

What now? With the Slaughter solution toast, Philip Klein reports on the House Dems’ next move coming Monday:

Rep. Paul Ryan says that Democrats are ready to ram a “shell” health care bill through the Budget Committee, on which he serves as ranking Republican member, to use as a vehicle to impose national health care.

In a phone interview with TAS Thursday afternoon, Ryan said that he expects Democrats to begin the complex process on Monday, under which they would have the Budget Committee approve a phantom bill by midnight, which they will then send over to the Rules Committee. At that point, the Rules Committee will strip out all of the language in the phantom bill, and insert the changes to the Senate bill that Democrats have negotiated.

“They don’t have the votes right now, but they’re creating the vehicle so that they can airdrop in whatever changes they want,” Ryan said.

He said that Republicans are outnumbered 2-to-1 on his committee and don’t have the votes to stop the bill there. Democrats will also be able to prevent Republicans from offering any amendments, but GOP members will be able to offer “motions to instruct” the Rules Committee, that Ryan said will be used highlight problems with the “unprecedented” step that Democrats are taking.

He said he expected Democrats to dust off last year’s health care bills from the Education and Labor and Ways and Means Committees, to use as the vehicle for reconciliation changes.

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Comments


  1. #1
    On March 11th, 2010 at 4:53 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    There’s a reason why cheating is sometimes refered to as a “Liberal interpetation of the rules”.

  2. #2
    On March 11th, 2010 at 4:57 pm, NBF said:

    Don’t worry, the donks will call in the sawed-off-shotgun-toting Department of Education goon squad to re-educate the naysayers.

  3. #3
    On March 11th, 2010 at 4:58 pm, steveegg said:

    That assumes one of two things:

    - They actually listen to the Senate Parliamentarian. One of their gambits was to have Biden fill his role as President of the Senate so that his word, not the Parliamentarian’s, on points of order is final.

    - That Wreckonciliation is actually meant to happen. As Rep. Ryan (my Congresscritter) pointed out, once Obama signs “something”, it’s law.

  4. #4
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:01 pm, Buy Danish said:

    Is this the correct definition of a “phantom bill“?

  5. #5
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:04 pm, Southpaw said:

    Wile E. Obama will catch that pesky Roadrunner Health Care Reform one of these days.

  6. #6
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:08 pm, RedDog said:

    Ryan said that he expects Democrats to begin the complex process on Monday, under which they would have the Budget Committee approve a phantom bill by midnight, which they will then send over to the Rules Committee. At that point, the Rules Committee will strip out all of the language in the phantom bill, and insert the changes to the Senate bill that Democrats have negotiated.

    Democrats dodge and evade the letter and intent of the Constitution at every opportunity in an attempt to achieve political ends by connivance. And they are not ashamed in the least even when the American people expressly tell them to stand down. This behavior is all Americans need see to judge that these Congressmen have violated their oaths of office. They are unfit to serve. A national shame and disgrace.

  7. #7
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:09 pm, Ragspierre said:

    The more they screw with the political process…

    the more they foster OPERATION OVER-REACH.

    People are watching…

  8. #8
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm, Paul Revere said:

    If they are introducing old bills as the Senate bill and making changes, it won’t go to 0bama’s desk. It must go back to the Senate to approve the changes. They can’t just make up the rules as they go and have them succeed (although they are obviously trying). None of this makes any sense except the fact they are deranged animals who are in a corner.

  9. #9
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm, 24Klady said:

    I’m guessing the jig is up – no matter what the Demwits do now is going to sit well with the American public. Something will get passed, there will be a huge public outcry by members of both parties and come Nov. 2010 an event close to the French Revolution. Ditto for 2012.

    It’s called: be careful what you wish for you just may get it. The Demwits will not be able to salvedge their party. They’ve wrecked the economy, taken over huge portions of the economy and now healthcare. If I were them, I’d leave amnesty alone this time around. That could be the perverbial straw.

  10. #10
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm, Regulus said:

    As long as the donks are running Congress, putting the final nail in socialized medicine is rather like nailing jelly to a wall. It’ll just keep oozing around whatever you try to stop it with.

    The only hope in the short-term is that there is one donk in Sodom & Gomorrah Washington DC with a conscience. Pray for that.

    Because otherwise, the only way to get rid of whatever the donks come up with will be a 3-way Republican lock on the federal government (with a reliable super-majority in the senate to boot — good luck with that…).

  11. #11
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:16 pm, Southpaw said:

    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:13 pm, Paul Revere said:

    None of this makes any sense except the fact they are deranged animals Three Stooges who are in have painted themselves into a corner.

  12. #12
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:20 pm, GraniteMan said:

    Has anyone got a silver stake? Because that’s what it will take to kill this damn thing.

  13. #13
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:22 pm, sandpiper said:

    Why don’t we use the Slaughter solution in November. We could just “deem” that the Democrats lost every election.

  14. #14
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:25 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    This kamikaze Congress intends to give Dear Reader his “fundamental transformation” of this country. There seems to be little we can do to stop them. Amnesty is coming next and I expect the same sort of jam down. By hook or crook.

    Might have been a good idea to check his ID. Not take internet images as fact.

  15. #15
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:27 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    …the only way to get rid of whatever the donks come up with will be a 3-way Republican Conservative lock on the federal government (with a reliable super-majority in the senate to boot)…

    FIFY

  16. #16
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:30 pm, Regulus said:

    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:27 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    FIFY

    Hey, whatever works. It’s just that rolling back socialism instead of aborting it is a monstrous way of confirming that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

  17. #17
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:32 pm, Savage24 said:

    The more I see of this “most open an ethical government” the more I see revolution. These people have violated their oath of office, therefore not fit to hold that office. By the way when are the democrats going to adopt the song “Behind Closed Doors” as their theme song?

  18. #18
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:39 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Of course, the Republic continues to hang in the balance, but think of what we’ve gained by this over-reach…

    1. Reconciliation as a means of passing sweeping changes into law is dead (if only for now)

    2. Slaughtering the rule of law is dead

    3. Wolves have shed their sheep-skins…EVERYBODY sees who the Dimocrats are–for real

    4. Pro-life R/D/I voters see just how their views are valued by collectivists

    5. The leadership of both Houses is beclowned

    6. The energy levels, and ideology, of Americans opposed to this crap are raised and firmed up…or focused

    7. People who never refer to the Constitution in conversation ARE beginning to think about what it really means to them.

    8. Dimocrats are looking at a MAJOR asp-whooping (per Michael Moore)

  19. #19
    On March 11th, 2010 at 5:41 pm, Sanddog said:

    The problem, of course?

    Biden can overrule the parliamentarian.

  20. #20
    On March 11th, 2010 at 6:01 pm, Lindsay said:

    This healthcare bill has given me a headache. I do hope it is the final nail in the Democrat’s coffin for the next two elections (heck, for eternity!).

    The Dem rats should be jumping ship as the Titanic is fixin’ to hit an iceberg. The Massa scandal is getting Pelosi noticed in the most corrupt and idiotic Congress in history. At this point, no one but Rep. Ryan has a clue as to what is going on.

    Who is on first? This is how the dialogue must go in the House and Senate:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejweI0EQpX8

  21. #21
    On March 11th, 2010 at 6:10 pm, DesertLover said:

    As I have pointed out in previous posts on this you cannot “reconcile” a law that does not exist … Obamacare has not been passed and signed yet … until BO signs something it is still just a bill … the Prez signature is the item that takes a bill and makes it a law … once it is a law then it can be modified or reconciled …

    The House has to pass the Senate Bill exactly as written … no changes whatsoever … then BO has to sign it into law … then the Senate can start “reconciliation” … only items in the bill that are “tax” and “budget” related can be addressed through reconciliation … everything else … such as abortion, mandates, etc., etc., are considered “policy” and therefore are not able to be changed through reconciliation … period …

    House Dems are being played for fools on that point if they think they can get that changed as part of the process …

    In fact … once the Prez signs it … the Senate could tell the House to pack sand and not even consider any changes and the House could not do a thing about it …

  22. #22
    On March 11th, 2010 at 6:38 pm, California Red said:

    The constitution is pretty clear. A bill passes both houses of congress and then it is signed by the president. These guys need to watch schoolhouse rock. On second thought, they are probably already rewriting that so that Bill sings of reconciliation and shell bills.

    I am getting sick of the disregard of the law and the tactics of this government.

  23. #23
    On March 11th, 2010 at 6:53 pm, tarpon said:

    I always said how do you reconcile before you have a Bill. The answer apparently is you cannot.

    Next we need to figure out how you can pass a Bill without voting. Answer is you can’t unless you declare the USA is a tyranny, and Obama is the dictator, which stand by, the Democrats may do.

    Getting closer to the precipice. Who would have thought where hope and change would take us.

  24. #24
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:00 pm, rightwingmom said:

    Remember, SanFran said we need to pass the bill so we can see what’s in it.

  25. #25
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:04 pm, bofh47 said:

    Woo Hoo!!! Banana Republic. Everyone gets to close down shop and take a nap from noon to two every afternoon!

  26. #26
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:09 pm, rightwingmom said:

    Those DANG PESKY RULES!!!

  27. #27
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:14 pm, Southpaw said:

    “Iceberg? What iceberg? I don’t see no stinkin’ iceberg”

  28. #28
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:23 pm, Laree said:

    Senator Harry Reid’s wife and daughter have been in an auto accident. Back ended by a semi truck?

    Mrs Reid broke her nose, back and neck, their daughter’s neck is injured.

    They are in a hospital in Fairfax Virginia.

    CNN was covering this story.

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/11/us/AP-US-Reid-Family-Accident.html?_r=1

    God Bless The Reid Family, All My Prayers.

  29. #29
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:24 pm, Laree said:

    This is up on Drudge.

    http://www.drudgereport.com/

    I guess it is a good thing to read Drudge during the day.

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/11/us/AP-US-Reid-Family-Accident.html?_r=1

  30. #30
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:26 pm, rightwingmom said:

    Laree ~ THANKS
    Praying for the Reid ladies!

  31. #31
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:27 pm, letget said:

    I don’t know about you, but in my prayers every night I ask God to help this wonderful country He made from what has happended since this bho was elected. Could it be, my prayers are answered, along with millions of others? I will not give up asking for help.
    L

  32. #32
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:28 pm, Laree said:

    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:26 pm, rightwingmom said:

    You are welcome. I don’t know if Fox is covering this. but CNN is giving updates. Right now Mrs Reid is reportedly in serious condition but not life threatening.

  33. #33
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:32 pm, rightwingmom said:

    Wreckonciliation is a classic case of ~
    “READY, SHOOT, AIM!”

  34. #34
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:32 pm, letget said:

    Laree,
    Yes Fox did give updates. They said harry went to the hospital and then returned to deal with the health care. Now I don’t know about you wives here, but if my hubby left me after an accident in the hospital, I think I would be a tiny bit chapped!
    L

  35. #35
    On March 11th, 2010 at 7:53 pm, swede said:

    Sanddog said:
    The problem, of course?

    Biden can overrule the parliamentarian.

    Only in the Senate, and this thing is still a long way from there.

    This new rule twister is another ridiculous desperation hail mary. Won’t get any further than the Slaughter nonsense. I “deem” this stupid!

    The entertainment value of this silly circus is getting outstanding – and is revealing the arrogance and ignorance of the Democritter leader(?)ship!

  36. #36
    On March 11th, 2010 at 8:32 pm, swede said:

    Remember Calvin and Hobbes? Nanny and Dingy warping the rules to pass BarryCare really reminds me of a Calvinball game!

    The Unofficial Official Rules of Calvinball
    Permanent Rule: You may not play the Calvinball the same way twice.

    Primary Rule: The following rules are subject to be changed, amended, or deleted by any player(s) involved. These rules are not required, nor necessary to play Calvinball.

    …1.2 Any player may declare a new rule at any point in the game (Figure 1.2). The player may do this audibly or silently depending on what zone (Refer to Rule 1.5) the player is in.

    1.5 The Calvinball Field (See Calvinball Equipment – 2.3) should consist of areas, or zones, which are governed by a set of rules declared by players. Zones may appear and disappear as often and wherever the player decides. For example, a corollary zone would enable a player to make a corollary (sub-rule) to any rule already made. Or a pernicious poem place would require the intruder to do what the name implies. Or an opposite zone would enable a player to declare reverse playibility on the others. (Remember, the player would declare this zone oppositely by not declaring it.)

    Tell me this doesn’t sound like Peloser and Dingy’s bizzarro BarryCare strategy! :D

  37. #37
    On March 11th, 2010 at 8:41 pm, rightisright said:

    Could it be, my prayers are answered, along with millions of others? I will not give up asking for help.

    the Lord works in mysterious ways..I’ll keep praying for this countries return to freedom.

    God Bless America!

  38. #38
    On March 11th, 2010 at 8:44 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    There is no limit to the lengths Democrats will go to destroy our institutions! I fear for the worst if they continue down this path.

  39. #39
    On March 11th, 2010 at 8:48 pm, rightisright said:

    we’re getting closer to that “stock up on food, water, guns and ammo”.

  40. #40
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:06 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Bottom Line

    No one or no group would be going to these extraordinary lengths and taking the political risks being taken by the Democrat Leadership, if the primary objective was to implement health care.

    Sorry to be a broken record, but this is not legislation; it’s a coup de tat.

  41. #41
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:17 pm, bjc said:

    *”Unprecedented”, as spoken by Paul Ryan, is the understatement of the year, and would make for a great book title when someone gets around to writing about this travesty.
    *It has always been about a pathway to single payer, and never about systematically solving the various root cause problems; The GOP has played the role of useful idiots over the years in terms of S-chip, Medicare Part D, the Doc fix, et al; They may not be able to stop this, but the people will not let this stand, as they have all the say in whether D.C. gets the revenue they so deperately need.

  42. #42
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:36 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Agreed, 100%! I have said it many times. The Federal Government has already overthrown the Constitution!

    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:06 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Bottom Line

    No one or no group would be going to these extraordinary lengths and taking the political risks being taken by the Democrat Leadership, if the primary objective was to implement health care.

    Sorry to be a broken record, but this is not legislation; it’s a coup de tat.

  43. #43
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:39 pm, swede said:

    Sorry to be a broken record, but this is not legislation; it’s a coup de tat.

    Perhaps, but one that is doomed to fail. Where is all this doom and gloom coming from? People are seeing this absurd arrogance and desperation for what it is. The polls show it and are trending strongly in our direction. I am looking for – and working hard for – a conservative sweep in Nov. It is getting closer to reality every day.

    If these cretin pass their steaming turd pile by breaking House and Senate rules the defecation is going to hit the fan big time. They won’t have to repeal it, it can be thrown out as unconstitutional. Remember, how Barry so brilliantly stroked SCOTUS at his SOTU? If they try passing this by breaking House rules the noble court will rip him a new one. And you know what happens when politicritters say to the people, “F you.” They respond, “No sir, F YOU! Watch for it.

    We are NOT screwed. We are back, baby!

  44. #44
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:43 pm, Lindsay said:

    I heard Rep. Ryan on Hannity give the best and most coherent explanation of the Dems shenanigans.

    At what point will the Supreme Court get involved? I hope the GOP is not going to go down without a fight.

    May God help us with these clowns in charge of our country. Keep praying.

    As they Pelosi and Reid toil and spin, terrorists are working in nuclear plants in the US.

  45. #45
    On March 11th, 2010 at 9:52 pm, William Teach said:

    Would someone please check the options for this horrible video game and turn the “respawn” option to off? Thanks.

  46. #46
    On March 11th, 2010 at 10:42 pm, RedDog said:

    “It’s hard out there for a pimp.”

    …. especially a Marxist one.

  47. #47
    On March 11th, 2010 at 11:15 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

    WOW! You MUST watch this clip of Senator Byrd when he Single-Handedly Stopped President Clinton From Using Reconciliation!

    Every word he said then is just as true now!

    Regardless of what Byrd says today, we should be playing over, and over, and over again the clip of what he said then.

  48. #48
    On March 11th, 2010 at 11:56 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:
  49. #49
    On March 12th, 2010 at 12:00 am, WarEagle82 said:

    Once a people have been separated from the source of virtue everything is essentially reduced to who can seize power and wield power to benefit themselves…

    You are seeing this played out here and now.

  50. #50
    On March 12th, 2010 at 12:08 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    On March 12th, 2010 at 12:00 am, WarEagle82 said:

    The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
    I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

    John 10:10

  51. #51
    On March 12th, 2010 at 12:24 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    House Democratic leaders last week began looking at crafting a legislative rule that would allow the House to approve the Senate health care bill, but not forward it to Obama for his signature until the Senate clears the reconciliation package.

    They are trying to make up the rules as they go along, to suit their situation.

    Here’s a rule they can follow.

    GFY Dems

    (figure it out)

    They would sell their grandmothers off as sex slaves at this point. Really… what boundary are they not willing to cross?????

  52. #52
    On March 12th, 2010 at 9:51 am, Tuesday said:

    Calvin and Hobbes rules are even too tame for Democrats. The latter, under the evil triumvirate of Obama/Pelosi/Reid, have become bizarre beyond belief.

    No more. Nada mas. Enough. Tone deafness is not an excuse.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE&feature

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