"Obama’s budget...included language allowing for the use of...reconciliation...to pass health care"

[ProSense]

On May 1, Congress passed President Obama’s budget, which included language allowing for the use of the budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform with a simple majority in the Senate. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) said any use of budget reconciliation by Obama would be “regarded as an act of violence” against Republicans, and likened it to “running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River.” Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) made similar remarks, while Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) called reconciliation a “purely partisan exercise.”

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The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has just passed health care reform legislation that contains a public plan option. Despite the fact that 160 Republican amendments were accepted, the bill still did not garner any Republican votes.

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[drm604]

1. "a purely partisan exercise"

Sen. Kyl, voting is a purely partisan exercise. It's called democracy. Majority rules - Elections mean something - etc. etc.

[grantcart]

2. yep thinking ahead just in case

But if that bothers him then we can revise cloture down to 55 votes too

[ProSense]

3. Dems are holding the cards.

No excuses.