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Democrats Strike Blow For Health Care--Budget Will Contain Reconciliation Process
Congressional Quarterly and The New Republic are reporting that House and Senate negotiators, along with members of the Obama administration, have determined that the final budget will include reconciliation instructions for health care.
As I detailed in this post--already outdated--that's a huge deal. Keep the date October 15 in mind. If the House and Senate don't agree on a comprehensive health reform bill by that date, this tactic will be operative.
Now the conferees will smooth over other discrepancies between the House and Senate budgets and then both bodies will vote on a final resolution.
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Excellent!
April 24, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. "Elections have consequences." :)
April 24, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome. You have to play hardball with these bastards.
I also like Obama's EPA decision: If Congress doesn't act, the EPA will unilaterally.
April 24, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is change I can believe in.
April 24, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those Democrats are so partisan. :P
John
April 24, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is great news.
April 24, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW... thread drift:
After a month of no activity, I assume that Elana moved on? I've seen a few items from her at the Washington Independent and also now at American Prospect. No knock of Brian Beutler, who is doing a fine job. But I'll miss Elana who did a really bang up job of helping launch TPMDC and establishing it's first rate reporting on the Hill.
John
April 24, 2009 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got the feeling that she didn't like the comment section aspect.
April 24, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? The comments writers were amazingly supportive of her work here. I mean... we all gave Eric a lot crap during the campaign last year for being an undercover member of Karl's Shop working the Polling Data to be pro-McCain... but he took out jabs in good spirit. With Elana, there was a lot of love here for her.
John
April 28, 2009 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
And this is why the politicians are saying to wait for the Senate Intelligence Committee release into the Torture, which Reid said will be out by the end of the year.
Obama wants Healthcare before the proverbial shit hits the fan regarding torture.
Holder can do whatever he wants, but Obama will try and keep the jets cooled on torture until after he gets healthcare, and other policy "wants" passed.
Look at the folks Obama has filled the DOJ with - he knows whats going on. He doesn't want to be the face or point man of the investigations. He doesn't want congress or the senate involved - they had their chance over the last eight years. This is an issue of law, not politics.
April 24, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is about time Congress got off their thumbs..Dems I mean...The repubs have done nothing but obstruct without solutions..
Obama extended a hand and the wingnuts did nothing...but lie and say no!
April 25, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink