Hatch: GOP Will Shut Down The Senate Over Reconciliation

The real message here is for House Democrats. You are not going to get your fix. With the GOP willing to go to war over it and the negative political consequences for Harry Reid and the Democrats in the Senate, House Democrats will be left to hang defending a bad vote on a bad bill America doesn't want.

Undeterred, Hatch says that Senate Republicans are already prepping to fight Democratic efforts to suppress GOP amendments. “Our conference is in the process of discussing that strategy right now,” he says. “No option will be overlooked. There is a distinct possibility that the Democrats’ very partisan exercise could shut down the Senate. Let’s face it — if they’re going to play this kind of game then we will make sure they have one heck of a rough time from this day forward. There are all kinds of ways we could shut down the Senate, and I know them all.”

Comments

[bellez]

Takes these idiots long enough to grow a pair.. I don't trust any of them till I see every member picking pieces of the bill out of ..well you know!

[Roger Wichmann]

I will believe it wen I see it... :(

[cindi]

Makes me sick. Sick enough to revolt.

[Reaganite Republican]

I actually believe him- seems it's occurring to more pachyderms everyday that letting Obama roll over them will be judged by voters as no better than voting along with him... same end result. So to avoid the throw-the-bums out tsunami coming their way, they are now forced to get off their keisters and do something.

The country wants GOP heroes, and it wants them to FIGHT Obama tooth-and-nail... we might have enough stand-up guys and gals rise to the occasion just in time- I'm sure praying for it

[astonerii]

These kinds of machinations have to be done delicately and timed right. If you do a showdown too soon, you are labeled the party of no and obstructionists, because the public has not heard enough to know they are against the measures you are blocking. If you do the showdown too late, then the momentum ends up winning the day and despite your blocking, it passes anyways. I think the Republicans as a whole have handled the situation the voters, not me, handed them in 2008 and the Democrats have forced through all of 2009 and 2010 to date.

I still do not like many individuals, but as a whole, the party has been solid. Now the issues are in the House and just how stupid the Democrats are there. They do not garner much confidence.

[INVASION U$A!!]

Actions speak LOUDER than words. http://www.BorderInvasionPics.com

[Jabba the Tutt]

To use Obama's favorite word, reconciliation is a distraction. If the House passes the Senate bill. That's it. Obama sign's it and it's law. If there's another law passed to fix the problems the House has with the Senate bill, that's not 'reconciliation', that's another bill.

Rush, argues that if the House passes the Senate bill, Obama will run away from the healthcare issue, drop it and hope people forget about it before November.

What's sad is now that the Democrats have to deal with the Democrats, they have a problem. Democrat politicians know what they are and they know what other Democrat politicians are, and the know that they can't trust a Democrat to keep his word. It's like Lex Luthor having to deal with Lex Luthor, rather than Superman. Lex knew that Superman couldn't lie, but Lex knows Lex and he knows, he's a chump, if he believes a word that Lex Luthor says.

[smitty]

Bring it, Hatch!
We're used to the Lefty Whining Chorus, but this prospect promises to tease out some shrieking good new variations.

[Lightwave]

Once again, reconciliation is not the issue. Shutting down the Senate will not prevent OBAMACARE from becoming law.

If Hatch is talking about doing this, THEN HE EXPECTS OBAMACARE TO BE PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY OBAMA.

Under no circumstances can that be allowed to happen. The reconciliation fight is a pointless distraction. The real battle has been in the House now since December. Every Dem in the House must be made aware that a "yes" vote will cost them their job in November, because a yes vote will cost YOU your insurance, your quality of health care, and trillions in additional taxes.

Blocking reconciliation in the Senate means we're already lost in the House.

Wake up, people. Jam the House switchboard. Jam the House e-mail servers. Light them up.

You only have days left.

[USMC]

You know had anyone else said this I wouldn't give it much thought. But Hatch? I'm no fan of his but when he talks like this I take it seriously.

[PA]

"If you do a showdown too soon, you are labeled the party of no and obstructionists, because the public has not heard enough to know they are against the measures you are blocking."

A large majority of the public is solidly against ObamaCare if polling is to be believed. They would be on solid ground.

[Huey]

If reconciliation is successfully used, I'll state what I stated when this first hit the net: "SHUT IT DOWN."

It is all-out war if the Demorats circumvent Senate Rules (and their own stated, recorded, shouted principles).

SHUT IT DOWN.

[southdakotaboy]

They need to shut the Sentate down anyway until January to stop the Dems from doing anything. We need to Republicans to stop being afraid of shutting down the Government. We also need to let the Dems know that we are perfectly happy if they want to try the same thing with us, we are the party that doesn't like government anyway it is no skin off of our nose if it closes down for a few weeks.

[ODS Cure]

1. Reconciliation is part of the rules.
2. Republicans have used it far more often than Democrats. Hatch even voted for reconciliation a number of times.

[PA]

"Republicans have used it far more often than Democrats."

Perhaps because Republicans have been more interested than Democrats in cutting deficits.

[Lightwave]

"They need to shut the Senate down anyway until January to stop the Dems from doing anything."

Now this should be done anyway. You have 41 votes, Republicans. NOTHING PASSES UNTIL THE GOP HAS CONTROL OF THE SENATE AGAIN. Period.

But that's step two. Step one is shutting down Nancy Pelosi and the House.

[ODS Cure]

"Perhaps because Republicans have been more interested than Democrats in cutting deficits. "

You are delusional. But thanks for admitting reconciliation is part of the rules and has been a favorite tactic of Republicans.

[Huey]

ODS Cure (aka "2012"):

Reconciliation is, indeed, a Senate Rule. Any simpleton with the ability to browse google can determine this. Most simpletons don't.

The rule, enacted in 1974, is designed to be used for the singular purpose of evading the cloture rules (look it up) in Senate Rule 22 -- for the limited purpose of budgetary matters.

And, yes. It has been used by Republicans.

As intended. As the rule states. For budgetary matters.

* Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96-499 (1980)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Pub.L. 97-35 (1981)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982, Pub.L. 97-253 (1982)
* Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), Pub.L. 97-248 (1982)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1983, Pub.L. 98-270 (1984)
* Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA), Pub.L. 98-369 (1984)
* Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), Pub.L. 99-272 (1986)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, Pub.L. 99-509 (1986)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Pub.L. 100-203 (1987)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, Pub.L. 101-239 (1989)
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub.L. 101-508 (1990).
* Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub.L. 103-66 (1993).
* Balanced Budget Act of 1995, H.R. 2491 (vetoed December 6, 1995)
* Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, Pub.L. 104-193 (1996)
* Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub.L. 105-33 (1997)
* Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub.L. 105-34 (1997)
* Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999, H.R. 2488 (vetoed September 23, 1999)
* Marriage Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2000, H.R. 4810 (vetoed August 5, 2000)
* Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), Pub.L. 107-16 (2001)
* Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, Pub.L. 108-27 (2003)
* Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub.L. 109-171 (2006)
* Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), Pub.L. 109-222 (2006)
* College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Pub.L. 110-84 (2007)

Source here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(United_States_Congress)

As you can tell, it has been employed by both Democrat and Republicans. As you can also tell, it has been used exclusively, until now, on budgetary matters.

What the Demorats are attempting to is circumvent this rule by passing the Health care bill as passed by the Senate in the House. Then, using reconciliation, parts would be added or subtracted individually to the bill -- which have NOTHING TO DO WITH BUDGETARY MATTERS -- "fixing" the bill which will result in a bill which COULD NOT PASS THE HOUSE becoming the bill which becomes law.

This is an undisguised power grab.

This is what pisses people off. Nearly SEVENTY PERCENT of the American People don't want this to become law THIS WAY -- because they know that it is a perversion of the Democratic Process as envisioned by our founders and codified in the Rules of the House and Senate (in accordance with our Constitution.)

I know that, for liberals and other "true believers," the ends justifies the means (because, after all, they do know what's best, don't they -- being all "smart" and all...) But, process is sometimes substance.

It is in this case.

Resorting to this perversion of the rules to pass a bill which COULD NOT OTHERWISE PASS is a clear declaration of WAR.

War against the citizenry who do not wish this bill.
War against the Rules of the Senate which prohibit this perversion.
War against the Constitution which does not grant this power to the federal government.

The Republicans, having little power until 2010, cannot stop this alone. But, they DO have weapons.

They should use them and SHUT THIS MOTHER DOWN.

And, then ...

When they take over in 2010, revise the rules (via reconciliation if necessary) and ram our agenda down the throats of the Demorats.

The difference will be that that which is "rammed" down the throats of the rapidly shrinking Demorat minority will be that which the American people actually KNOW ABOUT, UNDERSTAND, and AGREE WITH.

[ODS Cure]

The Parliamentarian gets to decide what can by used for reconciliation and what can't. And reconciliation has been used in the past to pass health program.

I guess if the Dems don't like his decisions, they can do what the Republicans did when he ruled against them -- fire him.

[Huey]

Reconciliation has been used exactly once before on a bill for "nominally ... non-budgetary purpose (for example, see the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, when a Republican was president and the Democrats controlled Congress)."

By Democrats.

COBRA, a bill which PASSED THE HOUSE and was passed, by reconciliation in the Senate UNCHANGED -- and without any intention of subverting the process as the Democrats are attempting to do now by passing a bill and THEN "fixing" it via reconciliation -- at least was budgetary in nature.

COBRA included: "COBRA includes amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The law deals with a great variety of subjects, such as tobacco price supports, railroads, private pension plans, disability insurance, and the postal service , but it is perhaps best known for Title X, which amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to deny income tax deductions to employers for contributions to a group health plan unless such plan meets certain continuing coverage requirements. The violation for failing to meet those criteria was subsequently changed to an excise tax."

There's a reason it has been used so sparingly and, with the sole exception of the Demorats misusing the process in 2007, has been used for its intended purpose.

That reason is that the Senate (used to) take the Constitution seriously. Every bill can be filibustered. Every bill could have infinite amendments attached to it. Every bill could have endless debate.

So, the Constitution allows the Senate (and the House) to make its own rules regarding such things.

They did so.

Now, in a naked POLITICAL HAIL-MARY, in an attempt to "pass something" to SAVE THEIR JOBS (and in some cases a simple attempt to pass the framework for nationalized health care regardless of the consequences because, you know...it's for our own good and they, being all "smart and stuff" know better than we do what's good for us...) the Demorats are subverting the process, the Senate Rules, and, therefore THE CONSTITUTION.

It is no small thing here.

[ODS Cure]

Let me simplify your post for you:
So Republicans use reconciliation = Good!!!! Democrats use reconciliation = Bad!!!!!!!!

HCR has already passed both houses according to the rules of each? IF reconciliation is used, it will be to fix minor differences between the two bills. You're concern is a bit hyperbolic.

"Political scientist Joshua Tucker looked at the 19 times reconciliation was used between 1981 and 2005, and found that 14 of them were Republican initiatives. If you extend that analysis out to 2008, then 16 of 21 reconciliation bills were Republican."

[Huey]

ODS Cure: You're an idiot.

Reconciliation is SUPPOSED TO BE USED.

That's what it's for.

Moron.

That's why the rule exists.

You incredible simpleton.

But, it's supposed to be used for the intended purpose.

You brain-dead waste of space.

Every time it was used by the Republicans, it was used for the intended purposes. Every time it was used by the Democrats (save one) it was for the intended purposes.

This is different, you incredible brainwashed toad of a person.

[ODS Cure]

Name-calling. Soooooo classy. And really, really convincing.

But you're wrong again. There is no reconciliation doc yet. You don't know if there will ever be one, and if there is one, you have no clue what's going to be in it, whether or not it meets the Byrd rule, and you're not the frigging Senate Parliamentarian who gets to rule on it.

You might want to explain how COBRA -- (Consolidated Omnibus Budget RECONCILIATION Act ) - passed by Republicans signed by Reagan under reconciliation - meets the Byrd Rule. Good luck, you'll need it. Or you could just call me more names, that's probably more your style.

And here's some more health related legislation passed by --- reconciliation:

982 - TEFRA: The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act first opened Medicare to HMOs

1986 - COBRA: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act allowed people who were laid off to keep their health coverage, and stopped hospitals from dumping ER patients unable to pay for their care

1987 - OBRA '87: Added nursing home protection rules to Medicare and Medicaid, created no-fault vaccine injury compensation program

1989 - OBRA '89: Overhauled doctor payment system for Medicare, created new federal agency on research and quality of care

1990 - OBRA '90: Added cancer screenings to Medicare, required providers to notify patients about advance directives and living wills, expanded Medicaid to all kids living below poverty level, required drug companies to provide discounts to Medicaid

1993 - OBRA '93: created federal vaccine funding for all children

1996 - Welfare Reform: Separated Medicaid from welfare

1997 - BBA: The Balanced Budget Act created the state-federal childrens' health program called CHIP

2005 - DRA: The Deficit Reduction Act reduced Medicaid spending, allowed parents of disabled children to buy into Medicaid

[Huey]

Heh. Sorry about the name calling. I don't typically indulge my more base emotions.

[ODS Cure]

No problem. I've been tempted myself.