Kaine: Reconciliation is 'up and down vote'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/04/art.kaine1.gi.jpg caption="DNC Chairman Tim Kaine made his case Friday for using a budget maneuver known reconciliation to pass health care reform."]Washington (CNN) - Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine on Friday made his case for the Senate maneuver known as reconciliation, calling it an "up and down vote."
"The reconciliation process is every bit as much a part of Senate rules as the filbuster is, for example," Kaine said on CNN's "The Situation Room." "And it has been used repeatedly in the last 30 years, mostly by Republicans, but often on health care matters."
Kaine said the reconciliation process, which would allow Democrats to pass a bill with a simple 51-vote majority, has previously been used to pass health care legislation like the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA.
He also rejected claims that using the tactic would amount to "ramming" a health care bill through the Senate. Reconciliation, Kaine said, would be used to pass a second bill with "financing adjustments."
"The bill has passed the Senate already with 60 votes, so it wasnt rammed through," Kaine said. "In fact it's been played out in slow motion for months, as you know."
Kaine's GOP counterpart, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, appeared on CNN minutes later and said Democrats would pay a serious political price if they move forward with the procedure.
"If they go down this road with reconciliation, then come November there will be whole new set of lawmakers in the land coming to Washington, because the people will speak very loud and clear, and then we will begin to undo the damage that has been put in place by Obamacare," Steele said.
Steele also ridiculed Thursday's bipartisan health care summit, calling it "a death panel for Obamacare."
If you people believe this crap you deserve the out come.
Hey It's VA X-Moron. Still loosing election Timmy!
The bill was already passed in the Senate – so be it!!! Pass it and go on – this is getting old..............
AND, Kaine we miss you here in VA!!! The stimulus helped us last year and saved my job here in Chesterfield County – We're losing MANY jobs this year and McDonnell cut even more funds from our county by $3.4 Million to give to NORTHERN VA....Ewww!! I can't stand him!!!
another dim-witted liberal loon.
President Obama should of persuaded congress to this type of procedure in the first place. Simple majority voting is what should of been performed from the very beginning with this Health bill. Neo Cons (Re Thugs) want America to fail unless they have control of the U.S. House and Senate and Executive Branch.
E.G...Neo cons have also been successful in making Americans feel afraid of their own justice system by not supporting prosecution of terrorists of America in American Civilian Courts and on American soil. Instead Neo Cons want to export the American Justice System to Guantamo or some other country. Terrorism is occuring against America people so prosecute these terrorists.
Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin don't want anything to do with bipartisanship.
Boot-lick Kaine is a fool!