Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Parliamentarian's ruling deals blow to healthcare reform chances
NEWS DETAILS
Parent(s) Issue 
Contributorparticleman 
Last Editedparticleman  Mar 11, 2010 11:19pm
Logged 0
CategoryNews
News DateFriday, March 12, 2010 05:00:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionThe Senate parliamentarian has delivered a blow to Democrats by ruling President Barack Obama must sign the broader Senate healthcare legislation before the upper chamber can take up changes demanded by the House.

The ruling means House Democrats would have to rely on a good-faith promise that senators will pass the changes after the healthcare bill is signed into law, a difficult prospect at a time when lower-chamber lawmakers have grown distrustful of their Senate counterparts.

Ultimately, the parliamentarian’s ruling could cost healthcare reform crucial votes in the House, as some lawmakers may view it less likely the Senate will adopt their requested changes at a later date.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, told colleagues about the ruling Thursday afternoon, according to a Democratic source familiar with the meeting.

The news was delivered at a time when a number of Senate Democrats have been working diligently to assure House members they will keep their word.

Democrats had planned for Obama to sign, in quick succession, the Senate version of healthcare reform legislation and a companion measure with the changes.

But the latest development is one more reason for House lawmakers to be wary.

“If this is true, it will mean that we have to find a device to receive absolute assurances from our Senate colleagues that they’ll be able to complete the reconciliation process in the Senate,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), assistant to the Speaker.
Share
ArticleRead Full Article

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION