Today, certain Senators are considering a fast-track process to get President Obama’s budge passed. I was astounded to find out that an actual process like this exists and has been used before. It would seem that Reagan even used it to get one of his budgets to be considered. Anyways, the House of Representatives has the power of the purse, which means they are pretty much the end all on bills that appropriate money. Bills are introduced in the House and get voted yay or nay. Well the minority party can filibuster a bill preventing it from being voted on. This basically acts as a balance of power. Well if a bill is introduced via this ‘Reconciliation’ method, only 51 votes are needed instead of 60. With the Democrats having the necessary 51 votes they can easily pass the bill. Why is this an issue? Well the controversial universal health care plan is in the budget, and the GOP opposes this very strongly. If the reconciliation method is used, a clear message is sent across the aisle that the Dems don’t care what the GOP wants, they will use whatever means they can to get bills passed. Not a very good working relationship. The power will switch from party to party, as it always has so you do not want to start making your bed now. Congressional public approval is already in the gutter, and this certainly will not help things. Anybody even know where this Reconciliation process is documented? In the constitution some where? Crap like this makes people have such low expectations out of the people on the hill.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/bud_rec_proc.htm