Wiseacre
Retired USAF Chief
Last thursday night Harry Reid invoked the nuclear option to cutoff amendments to a bill with a simple 51% majority vote, overruling the Senate's parliamentarian. So, if the GOP retains the House and takes a majority in the Senate, even by a slim 51-49 majority, and they also put a repub in the WH, then ObamaCare is likely going to be history.
Snippet:
First, it could make it harder for Democrats to break GOP filibusters because Republicans may be even less willing to close off debate on legislation.
Even worse for Democrats, the tactics Reid employed to change a Senate precedent could make it easier for Republicans to justify using similar procedures to force simple-majority votes on hugely contentious issues, such as repealing Democratic priorities like health care reform and Wall Street regulations, Senate experts on both sides of the aisle said Friday.
The chaos began Thursday night when Senate Democrats voted 51-48 to effectively overturn the Senate parliamentarian on a ruling regarding amendments offered after the Senate invokes cloture which shuts off debate. It was the first time in 11 years the parliamentarian had been voted down. While the rules in play are arcane, the impact could be significant future Senate majorities may be encouraged to more regularly employ a similar procedure if their will is being blocked by the minority party on hot-button policy fights.
How Reid rules change could backfire - POLITICO.com Print View
The Senate is supposed to be the more deliberative body of Congress that should require more than a simple consensus to pass major legislation. Seemslike the Reid has given the GOP a free pass to do the same thing when they get control of the Senate. May not be in 2012, who know when, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Snippet:
First, it could make it harder for Democrats to break GOP filibusters because Republicans may be even less willing to close off debate on legislation.
Even worse for Democrats, the tactics Reid employed to change a Senate precedent could make it easier for Republicans to justify using similar procedures to force simple-majority votes on hugely contentious issues, such as repealing Democratic priorities like health care reform and Wall Street regulations, Senate experts on both sides of the aisle said Friday.
The chaos began Thursday night when Senate Democrats voted 51-48 to effectively overturn the Senate parliamentarian on a ruling regarding amendments offered after the Senate invokes cloture which shuts off debate. It was the first time in 11 years the parliamentarian had been voted down. While the rules in play are arcane, the impact could be significant future Senate majorities may be encouraged to more regularly employ a similar procedure if their will is being blocked by the minority party on hot-button policy fights.
How Reid rules change could backfire - POLITICO.com Print View
The Senate is supposed to be the more deliberative body of Congress that should require more than a simple consensus to pass major legislation. Seemslike the Reid has given the GOP a free pass to do the same thing when they get control of the Senate. May not be in 2012, who know when, but what's good for the goose is good for the gander.