ProgressOhio

In yesterday’s New York Times, Congressional scholars Thomas Mann, Norm Ornstein and others explain the history of the reconciliation process – requiring a simple majority vote in the Senate – and discuss their views on using it to finalize health insurance reform legislation:

…would reconciliation represent an anomalous and dangerous power grab? The accompanying chart, which lists 15 major reconciliation bills passed by Congress since the process was first used in 1980, provides evidence for assessing that charge…

(click on above image, or here, for full chart)

The history is clear: While the use of reconciliation in this case — amending a bill that has already passed the Senate via cloture — is new, it is compatible with the law, Senate rules and the framers’ intent.