Reid Threatens 'Nuclear Option' to Pass Health Care Reform as Panel Starts Work

[WillowTree]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid threatened on Tuesday to use a procedural maneuver to steamroll opponents of health care reform, even as a Senate panel began delicate negotiations over a package that could have the best chance at passing.

The Nevada Democrat, who has issued similar threats before, spoke as the Senate Finance Committee began debate over Chairman Max Baucus' reform plan. Reid threatened to use a budgetary tool called reconciliation -- also known as the "nuclear option" -- that would allow Democrats to pass key parts of the legislation with a simple majority, as opposed to the 60 votes needed to avoid a Republican filibuster.

"If we can't work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we'll be forced to do the reconciliation," Reid said, adding that he views that as a "last resort."

"It remains to be seen as to whether we will have to do reconciliation. I am confident and hopeful we won't have to do that, but time will only tell," Reid said.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr, N.C., said reconciliation would be a "grave mistake," and that Reid underestimates the public concerns over the bill.

"I don't think it's a threat. I think that's what Harry Reid intends to do," Burr told FOX News.

But the Senate Finance Committee pushed through tense and intensive talks Tuesday to reach common ground on the Baucus plan. Senators have filed 564 amendments, and on Tuesday afternoon Baucus released a slew of change




Reid Threatens 'Nuclear Option' to Pass Health Care Reform as Panel Starts Work - Political News - FOXNews.com




go ahead Harry political armageddon! go for it!

 

[Dr.Traveler]

Honestly, he should.

He and Pelosi have proven to be pretty weak at reigning in factions of their own party. If Reid has a simple majority, and feels he can get away with it, he should make a run at it. He surely won't have a philibuster proof majority in 2010 and this issue has ate up enough time as is. Its time to get on to other issues.

 

[WillowTree]

Honestly, he should.

He and Pelosi have proven to be pretty weak at reigning in factions of their own party. If Reid has a simple majority, and feels he can get away with it, he should make a run at it. He surely won't have a philibuster proof majority in 2010 and this issue has ate up enough time as is. Its time to get on to other issues.

he absolutely should. he absolutely should. what's taking hymn so long?

 

[anna]

How many depends does he go through a day???

 

[Big Black Dog]

If I was Reid I would begin now to clean out my office. Regardless of this health care reform crap, people are tired of his political BS. He's toast the next election cycle no matter what he does. Hope he takes Pelosi with him. Thankfully Obama is nearly 1/4 of the way through his 15 minutes of fame. He's gone too.

 

[HUGGY]

How many depends does he go through a day???

Anna.....That's stinkin thinkin.

 

[rayboyusmc]

If he doesn't use the reconciliation if needed, he will be kicked out of his office.

He not only looks like Mitch McWaddles, but he is just as dynamic.

Now Nancy, there's one hot old chick.She probably has a bigger set than most of the boys in the band.

Nuclear it shall be and a health care plan we shall have. Future generations will wonder what the big stink was all about and won't believe people fell for the socialist shit, death panels, government men in your doctor's office etc.

Go home take an aspirin and see me in a year under the current system.

 

[WillowTree]

are you quite sure raybononsense?


interesting stiuff comes with reconcilliation, it could actually neuter you and reid.. hey!


Why Democrats may jam through health care plan | Washington Examiner

 

[Missourian]

If he doesn't use the reconciliation if needed, he will be kicked out of his office.

He not only looks like Mitch McWaddles, but he is just as dynamic.

Now Nancy, there's one hot old chick.She probably has a bigger set than most of the boys in the band.

Nuclear it shall be and a health care plan we shall have. Future generations will wonder what the big stink was all about and won't believe people fell for the socialist shit, death panels, government men in your doctor's office etc.

Go home take an aspirin and see me in a year under the current system.

Then why does he continually threaten?

If you got the votes, grow a set and get r done.

I suspect he hasn't got the votes and this is all bluster and posturing.

 

[WillowTree]

But reconciliation is allowed only on proposals that deal directly with the budget or are primarily fiscal in nature. So Democrats could use reconciliation to pass parts of the health care bill that have a direct fiscal effect, but not other measures creating things like health care supervision agencies. If Democrats try to pass measures that are deemed "extraneous," Republicans could object and have the measures stripped from the bill





oh my!

 

[WillowTree]

The prospect of a paragraph-by-paragraph reconciliation fight has led to what some Republicans call the "Swiss cheese scenario." Each time Republicans defeat a portion of the bill, they'll poke another hole in the Democrats' ambitions. Poke enough holes, and the Democrats' vaunted health care plan is Swiss cheese.



oh my oh my

 

[Meister]

What does Reid have to lose on a nuclear option? He is way behind in the polls in the state of Nevada, but he just may take a lot of democrats with him in the next election if he goes this route. Whatever floats your boat

 

[rayboyusmc]

REid is a frigging wussy, that's what I said.

poke another hole in the Democrats' ambitions.

And takes away the chance of health care for all Americans. But who gives a shit about them. We have medical insurance and if they weren't lazy bastards they would too, right Willow?

The current repubs are morally bankrupt and don't give a shit about the middle class. They will continue the piddle down theory and the lemmings will open their mouths to be piddled in.

 

[Meister]

REid is a frigging wussy, that's what I said.

poke another hole in the Democrats' ambitions.

And takes away the chance of health care for all Americans. But who gives a shit about them. We have medical insurance and if they weren't lazy bastards they would too, right Willow?

The current repubs are morally bankrupt and don't give a shit about the middle class. They will continue the piddle down theory and the lemmings will open their mouths to be piddled in.

You talk like there is only one option Ray, there are others options that could be worked out, if only the politicians would get their friggin heads out of their friggin asses.
government option...or co op, or public options are not the only ones.

 

[The Rabbi]

The Democrats have been blustering this one to death. How many times have they threatened that "we've talked enough. We'll get this done even without GOP support"?
They have never needed GOP support. The fact is they don't have the votes in their own party.
If Reid tries this shtick he will find the American people screaming to their reps and he probably still won't get it done. And the precedent is terrible.

 

[WillowTree]

REid is a frigging wussy, that's what I said.

poke another hole in the Democrats' ambitions.

And takes away the chance of health care for all Americans. But who gives a shit about them. We have medical insurance and if they weren't lazy bastards they would too, right Willow?

The current repubs are morally bankrupt and don't give a shit about the middle class. They will continue the piddle down theory and the lemmings will open their mouths to be piddled in.

get back to me roberto when you agree that if everybody should enjoy government entitlements of health care then all should pay federal income tax. otherwise suck a lemon.

 

[Xenophon]

And Harry starts down the exact same road of his GoP predecssor, threatening to ignore the minority (in this case it will be his own party).

Give em hell harry!

While you are on the way out!

 

[JakeStarkey]

If I was Reid I would begin now to clean out my office. Regardless of this health care reform crap, people are tired of his political BS. He's toast the next election cycle no matter what he does. Hope he takes Pelosi with him. Thankfully Obama is nearly 1/4 of the way through his 15 minutes of fame. He's gone too.

No, BBD, you clearly don't understand Nevada politics. The LDS there will simply not permit him to be replaced by anyone else.

 

[Meister]

If I was Reid I would begin now to clean out my office. Regardless of this health care reform crap, people are tired of his political BS. He's toast the next election cycle no matter what he does. Hope he takes Pelosi with him. Thankfully Obama is nearly 1/4 of the way through his 15 minutes of fame. He's gone too.

No, BBD, you clearly don't understand Nevada politics. The LDS there will simply not permit him to be replaced by anyone else.

I guess they haven't polled any LDS yet.

 

[Emma]

Reid Threatens 'Nuclear Option' to Pass Health Care Reform as Panel Starts Work

'bout time.