Daily Agitator

There is a new buzzword flying around Washington, well it is not a new word, but one that is coming back in style…that word is RECONCILIATION………..the difference in today from say 8 years ago….it is a dirty word….something to be reviled……but why?

What does reconciliation meaning, at least politically:

Reconciliation is a legislative process in the United States Senate intended to allow consideration of a contentious budget bill without the threat of filibuster. Introduced in 1974, reconciliation limits debate and amendment, and therefore favors the majority party. Reconciliation also exists in the United States House of Representatives, but because the House regularly passes rules that constrain debate and amendment, the process has had a less significant impact on that body.

A reconciliation instruction (Budget Reconciliation) is a provision in a budget resolution directing one or more committees to submit legislation changing existing law in order to bring spending, revenues, or the debt-limit into conformity with the budget resolution. The instructions specify the committees to which they apply, indicate the appropriate dollar changes to be achieved, and usually provide a deadline by which the legislation is to be reported or submitted.

A reconciliation bill is one containing changes in law recommended pursuant to reconciliation instructions in a budget resolution. If the instructions pertain to only one committee in a chamber, that committee reports the reconciliation bill. If the instructions pertain to more than one committee, the House Budget Committee reports an omnibus reconciliation bill, but it may not make substantive changes in the recommendations of the other committees.

Actually when all is said…it simply means a normal majority (51%)…….opposition yells about it being bad to use a simple majority and not the filibuster-proof super-majority (60 votes)…..

But to conservs it is not so bad when their Prez GW used it to pass the Medicare Advantage and added trillions to an already stretched budget….but now that the Dems are going to use the tactic, ‘it will destroy American democracy’……why is that?

By using their objection to a simple majority then let us extend it include election…..where Repub or Dem needs 60% vote count to win their election….

Personally, I am ashamed of these petty childish antics from people we trust to do what is right for the country….maybe the teabaggers have it right…throw ALL the a/holes out of office and start over!