Reconciliation? It Doesn't Mean What You Think it Means

Let's start with Inigo Montoya telling the Democrats on this Hill about Reconciliation:



What is the Congressional meaning of Reconciliation? A process established in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by which Congress changes existing laws to conform tax and spending levels to the levels set in a budget resolution. Changes recommended by committees pursuant to a reconciliation instruction are incorporated into a reconciliation measure.

In short, Reconciliation deals with Budget, tax and Appropriation issues. Brenden Nyhan has a very detailed list of when Reconciliation was used since 1980. Read it and get back here.

In every case, reconciliation was used for Budget, tax and Appropriations issues.

The Welfare Bill signed by President Clinton? That was a change in the tax and appropriation rolls.

All of President George W. Bush's Tax Cuts were done through Reconciliation. Those were Tax issues. It falls under the meaning.

And College Cost Reduction Bill? Again, Tax and Budget items.

So, when you have Liberal Intellectuals try to sell you that Reconciliation for the Health care Bill is Kosher -- remember Inigo Montoya's words: It doesn't mean what they think it means.

The Health Care Bill should go to Conference Committee then the finished Health Care Bill goes to a vote in both chambers. If both Majority Democratic Chambers passes the Bill, it goes to President Obama's desk to be signed.

For the Democrats and the left to thread the needle over this Bill, means again, the Democrats don't trust the public or their colleagues. Are the Democrats so insistent on a win that they want to bypass their chambers own rules?

I'm afraid the answer is Yes.

And look at what the Democrats said about President Bush trying to change the rules.

My question: What is the blow back if the Democrats use Reconciliation?

And to help our Liberal friends on the Hill, this is the way a Bill gets done: