House to Senate: We're Ready On Health Care If You AreLeading Democrats in the House still insist that "all options are on the table" to move ahead on health care. But
for the first time since last Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, it's clear that they're coalescing around the most widely discussed option: moving ahead with the Senate bill once it's clear that it will be changed through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process. Before they can move ahead, they need the Senate to make some real headway on their end of the bargain--and they're not getting the signs they need."I thought we could get the votes in the House to pass the
bill if fixes to the Senate bill can be done," House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) told reporters today.
"That would be a good option as far as I'm concerned," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), leader of the House progressives' health care task force. "I could support it. Reconciliation. Majority rule."
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA)--one of the key architect's of the House health care bill--gives it the high sign. "I think reconciliation's an appropriate way to proceed on reconciling the budget requirements," he said. "It's available to us. That was very specifically handled that way when we passed the budget."
The hang up, they now say, is not on their end, but that they first need a high sign from the Senate that the two chambers can work in lockstep.
"We have to wait to see what they think they can pass," said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). "The sense they give us is that Reid doesn't know from issue to issue what they can get votes for."
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/house-to-senate-were-ready-on-health-care-if-you-are.php?ref=fpblg
OK Senate, get your sh#$ together and promise the House that you have 50 votes to pass the Reconciliation you both agree on, then do it soon.
Plus, the Senate can lose 9 "Dems" so get the best policy through that you can with 50 votes. No need to buy off the ConservaDems.
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