Above video shows leading Democrats, including then Senator Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, and Dianne Feinstein voicing strong opposition and feigned moral outrage over prior usage of the process known as budget reconciliation. To exhibit how this process is being bastardized by President Obama and the Democrats, one need not look any further than the actual rule itself (excerpt):
"Created in a budget resolution in 1974 as part of the congressional budget process, the reconciliation process is utilized when Congress issues directives to legislate policy changes in mandatory spending (entitlements) or revenue programs (tax laws) to achieve the goals in spending and revenue contemplated by the budget resolution. First used in 1980, this process was used at the end of a fiscal year to enact legislation to fine tune revenue and spending levels through legislation that could not be filibustered in the Senate. The policy changes brought about by this part of the budget process have served as constraints on the levels of mandatory spending and federal tax revenues which also has served since 1981 as a vehicle for deficit reduction."
Obviously, "reconciliation" was not intended to be used as a tool to ram through the biggest bill in history, one that would put the government in control of over 16% of the economy. Comparing past use of reconciliation with ramming through the 2,400 page ObamaCare bill, would be the equivalent of saying murders and traffic tickets are similar because they're both crimes.
Passing ObamaCare will be the last straw with the overwhelming majority of Americans who don't want this unconstitutional, unaffordable, and unworkable bill. Politicians who unethically and arrogantly pass it in this sleazy way, will find themselves joining the ranks of the unemployed come November 2nd, 2010.
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I don't understand why reconciliation is deemed "the nuclear option," when that term is supposed to be applied to the removal of the filibuster. Doesn't seem honest to me. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteIt's not honest. Obama says clearly at the beginning of the clip that he's talking about *changing* the rules of the Senate; what they're talking about now is just using the rule as it stands (as the Republicans have done many times).
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't forget that a healthcare bill has been passed already by both houses. They're not trying to "ram through" a bill using reconciliation--that's done. They're planning to, well, reconcile the two bills.
Yeah, rammed through, jammed through, crammed through. . . Usually Republicans are verbatim with their talking points. This time around it's OK if it rhymes I guess!
ReplyDeleteIt would be easier to empathize with the rage of the tea baggers if they weren't echoing the same talking points you hear tripping out of John Boner's and Mitch McConnell's mouths.