LETTER FROM WASHINGTON:

Dems tread softly, consider whether to carry big stick

Sunday, March 29, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Politics: The Early Line

Yucca Mountain

Washington — So often the political behavior here is breathlessly described as outrageous and unbelievable — until power changes hands and the other side does the exact same thing.

That appears to be what is happening now as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his fellow congressional leaders toy with a politically lethal tool to pass President Barack Obama’s budget priorities.

Think of it as the nuclear option of the budget process: It brings victory, yes, but it leaves no hope of bipartisanship in its wake. Only scorched political terrain remains.

Republicans are beside themselves that Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may employ this weaponry to pass the most difficult items in Obama’s agenda, namely, universal health care.

Unclear is whether Democrats really plan to take the step, known as budget reconciliation, or are merely using the threat to force Republicans — and perhaps moderate Democrats — to the bargaining table.

Stan Collender, a longtime federal budget expert who writes a weekly column for a Hill publication, said the Democrats’ threat “from a strategic view, it makes sense ... whether they use it or not is another question.”

This was never the way Washington was supposed to work.

In 1974, Bob Dove was assistant parliamentarian in the Senate when he and other staff members were called on to craft what became the Congressional Budget Act. They produced a document that included a fairly minor provision called budget reconciliation.

“It hardly got any attention,” said Dove, who now teaches at Georgetown University’s law school and other area universities.

The intent was to allow Congress to reconcile the budget bill swiftly.

But here’s the rub: In the Senate, the provision carries superhero-like power because legislation presented via reconciliation needs only a simple majority to pass, eliminating the ability of the minority party to block legislation by filibuster of as few as 40 of the 100 members.

President Ronald Reagan was among the first to employ the reconciliation provision in a big way. He did it so Congress would pass his first-term agenda in 1981.

President Bill Clinton persuaded Congress to use it in 1993.

And most recently President George W. Bush had Congress use it to pass his tax cuts in both 2001 and 2003 — that last year relying on Vice President Dick Cheney to cast the tiebreaking 51st vote.

That history is helpful now.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader from Kentucky, says using budget reconciliation would be one way to “steamroll the minority.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me ... if they tried to use any device they could to advance their agenda,” McConnell said.

Reid has given mixed signals, saying any talk of reconciliation is “just getting ahead of ourselves.” But a moment later Reid adds: “Hey, we’re taking nothing off the table.”

In many ways, Collender says, the fight is among Democrats. The House’s push for reconciliation is a way to pressure the Senate.

House Democrats get frustrated when bills they pass die in the Senate because the minority there blocks legislation. Plus, several of Reid’s own Democrats have bristled at using such a heavy-handed device.

Pelosi seems willing to push the issue. In defending reconciliation last week she said, “People on the Republican side didn’t have a problem with it ... when President Bush wanted to put forward his tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America.”

Dove, the former parliamentarian, watches from afar.

“My reaction, only having worked for the Senate for 35 years, is that reconciliation is a direct attack on the way the Senate operates,” he said.

“It does not leave a good taste in the mouth of the minority. And if it’s used this year, it won’t either.”

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By boingo

3/29/09 at 6:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Do you want health care reform and education improvements or not??

Republicans had no problem using reconciliation when they were the majority in Congress, using the strategy on the following legislation:

2005 -- Legislation That Cut Medicaid and Raised Premiums on Upper-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

2003 -- more budget busting 2003 Tax Cuts

2001 -- budget busting $1.35 Trillion Tax Cut

2000 -- $292 Billion "Marriage Penalty" Tax Cut (VETOED)

1997 -- Balanced Budget Act

1996 -- Legislation to Enact Welfare Reform

1995 -- "Contract With America" Agenda
By neiman1

3/29/09 at 6:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

This is harry Reid's last year and he wants to go out with a bang.
By aBadReid

3/29/09 at 9:26 a.m.

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"Think of it as the nuclear option of the budget process: It brings victory, yes, but it leaves no hope of bipartisanship in its wake. Only scorched political terrain remains."'

WELL, since Harry Reid is soooo anti-nuclear ANYTHING perhaps this will not happen! :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Bad Reid
Bad Senator

http://aBadReid.com
By bobojake

3/29/09 at 10:19 a.m.

Suggest removal

obamas craps and shove carbon tax will double the cost of food, double the cost of gasoline, double the cost of electricy.
It will also double the loss of contributions to charities and church.
I believe this is what obama objective is to have people beg from the government so he can be their master.
Why does obama reid,schuuuuummmmmmmmmmmer, and peloski hate American middle class hardworking taxpayers?

Call and email your Senators and Congressman every day this next 2 weeks ask them to shove obama budget where the sun don't shine.

this rape of the hardworking middle class taxpayers.
Why does reid,schuuuuummmmmmmmmmmer, obama and peloski hate American middle class hardworking taxpayers.
Stop these Madmen today.
Tell your Senators and Congressman to shove obama budget where the sun don't shine.
By Casca

3/29/09 at 12:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

Being a moderate voter I think one of the most important issues to get Americans back to work is Health care? Large and small businesses in this America have to negotiate with the middle man--Insurance companies! They are the inter-mediator, we can well do without?

If car manufacturing companies didn't have to pay extra for health care for it's hundreds of thousands of workers. Then we would be on a level-playing-field, with our foreign competitors who are subsidized by their governments? Why is it European countries like France, United Kingdom have a single payer system through the government that--WORKS!

The usual critics have everything to gain, and so much more to lose--they will put every obstacle in the way of Universal health care. Before Britain was invaded by immigrants under the European Common Market, my family had excellent Social health care.

Every employer and every worker paid into the system and the outcome insured you of hospitalization, doctor visits, specialists, eye and teeth care. Then of course the majority of upper class Americans don't like the idea, because they can well afford the co-pays, premiums that the insurance companies add to their exorbitant fees. But then they get the best service, including home visits.

The mechanics of health care in the US is no different to England's, including sitting in the waiting room and seeing the physician. If you needed to see a specialist you was referred by letter. The Democrats will state they are working for the American people, but for some that's an outright fallacy? It's unlikely we will never get rid of the greedy insurance companies--until we have taxpayer Campaign contributions for many corrupt politicians. Same with E-Verify for US Workers, because big business didn't like being cut off from cheap illegal labor. Of course the special interest lobbyists, will distort the truth to get voters to deny the 47 uninsured Americans (NOT ILLEGAL ALIENS) peace of mind--for--OUR--families and children.

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