Reply #14: Poster 2 is close. [View All]

[Igel]

Not quite right. Filibuster and cloture are tacitly involved, but for this bill filibuster is probably completely excluded; (R)-bearers probably couldn't filibuster if they wanted to. Since filibuster's been excluded as an option and debate's limited by rule, the increased vote total is needed to protect the speaking rites of the minority. This rule applies to a wide variety of spending bills, and fairly commonly so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(Senate) is a much more relevant link.