It seems that House Democratic leaders have settled on an interesting compromise in the debate over whether to use budget reconciliation rules to pass health care reform — effectively shielding any future bill from a Senate filibuster.
The House budget will include a filibuster-proofing rule that only kicks in if Dems and the GOP cannot reach a health reform compromise by the time Congress breaks for its month-long August recess, the WaPo reports this morning.
That means that if Republicans can make good on their kumbaya rhetoric and reach common ground with the president’s party by August, a longer debate and the ability to attempt a filibuster would be within their reach. But the House’s intriguing plan might be a moot point if the Senate doesn’t agree, since both chambers need to agree on a budget plan by next month.
And with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) openly pooh-poohing the reconciliation option, that agreement on filibuster-proofing is anything but a foregone conclusion.
