Healthcare

Reconciliation Madness

Reconciliation might not be so quick. For example, according TNR:

The Finance Committee and the Health Committee would each have to mark up their portions of the reconciliation bill. Neither panel’s rules presently allow anything analogous to the cloture process to shut off debate during a markup, so a “filibuster by amendment” is possible in both committees. The markups will last as long as members keep offering amendments and demanding votes.

I don't know enough about the process to know how quickly amendments can be rushed through the committees. It could be rushed through, I suppose -- but it could also be excruciatingly slow and painful. Either way, it has to happen. They have to pass the Senate bill and fix it with reconciliation.

Meanwhile (ugh!) Baucus and Harken are confident healthcare reform will continue to move forward.