Democrats in the Senate CAN pass a budget plan eliminating the sequestration..

[Bandit]

There is something called Reconciliation, which applies to Budget matters. If Democrats were to use it they could pass a Budget Bill by Majority rule and the filibuster could not be used....Why don't they? Then they could ask the Republicans in Congress to ACT and see what happens.

[djean111]

1. Because sequestration was desired, all along?

I am afraid this will embolden them to start work on Sequestration 2 - More Cuts!

[sendero]

2. You seem to think.

.... that there are two parties, fighting for their version of the truth.

There are two parties, putting on a show of fighting, but all matters economic are off the table - nobody is going to do anything about sequestration except possibly pass a bill to rescind the defense cuts.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Maybe Cause The Rushpublicans Still Control The House???

The Senate can and, IMO, should pass a revision of the sequestration...and I expect they will (part of what Obama's dinner was about last night)...and yes, he could use reconcilliation to pass whatever he wants with 51 votes but the problem is getting 219 votes in the House. Ramming through a bill without any rushpublicans aboard is sure to doom it in the House...who can and will pass their own "version"...and guess where we're at? Pretty much the place we are right now...any bill would have to go to committee and the same players would be back at either making a deal or walking away...

This is one big game of chicken playing with the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The rushpublican game is to make government as dysfunctional as possible and drive up voter anger and apathy. They will find any and every way to slow walk everything this administration proposes...welcome to the "new normal" for at least the next 2 years or longer...

[NightWatcher]

4. Dems need 60 votes to do anything

Do you really think enough pukes would go along? If so, would you be interested in buying some prime Florida real estate?

[Mass]

5. The point made by the OP is that reconciliation only requires 50 votes.

I am not sure whether dealing with sequestration would fit in this mold, but if yes, it could indeed leave the US Senate for the House.

However, it is unclear how it would pass the House or survive a Reconciliation Committee.