Reconciliation still in play

By GottaLaff

Open curtain...

Prologue: A short explanation:

Under reconciliation, healthcare legislation could pass with a simple majority after a strictly limited floor debate. But lawmakers would have to carve up the bill to eliminate provisions that do not clearly raise revenue or cut spending and therefore would be subject to parliamentary objections. Reid has said that he could pass a government-run health insurance program, known as the public option, under reconciliation.

Act One:

The threat of reconciliation could become more important as Reid wrangles with centrists over the public option.

Act Two:

During a Nov. 19 news conference, Reid told reporters: “I am not using reconciliation.”

But centrists are skeptical that Reid’s public stance means the threat of reconciliation has passed.

Intermission. Go get yourselves a pleasant, refreshing beverage. You have only a minute before we flash the lights.

A-a-and, we're back.

Act Three:

The procedural difficulties have convinced some supporters of the public option that reconciliation is not likely to be invoked anytime soon.

“No, because there would be a thousand amendments,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) when asked whether reconciliation is still an option to pass healthcare reform.

Epilogue:

But a Democratic aide said circumstances could change.

“People may reserve the right to revisit that reconciliation approach — that remains preferable to accomplishing nothing,” said the aide.

The aide expressed confidence, however, that a reform bill with some form of a public option could garner 60 votes.

Stay tuned for the sequel. And stock up on popcorn.

For now, close curtain.