GOP might have found a way to make passing health care using reconciliation even more painful than it otherwise would have been...
I'm in favor of passing parts of the health care bill using reconciliation. Anything that has a substantial impact on the federal budget stands a chance of passing using this tool. It does require a lot of steps, but you don't need 50 votes... or do you....
Republicans find loophole in budget ploy to push through healthcare legislation
By Alexander Bolton - 02/03/10 06:00 AM ET
As it turns out, Senate Democrats may not be able to force healthcare legislation through the chamber on a simple majority vote.
Republicans say they have found a loophole in the budget reconciliation process that could allow them to offer an indefinite number of amendments.
Though it has never been done, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says he’s prepared to test the Senate’s stamina to block the Democrats from using the process to expedite changes to the healthcare bill.
LINK TO FULL STORY