Harry Reid’s Letter to Mitch McConnell Justifying the Reconciliation Process
Senator Harry Reid grew some balls today. Big brass ones. Here are some excerpts from his letter to Senator Mitch McConnell:
Dear Leader McConnell:
Eleven months ago, I wrote you to share my expectations for the coming health reform debate. At the time, I expressed Democrats’ intention to work in good faith with Republicans…
Obviously, the opposite has happened, as many Republicans have spent the past year mischaracterizing the health reform bill and misleading the public. …… 60 Senators voted to pass historic reform that will make health insurance more affordable, make health insurance companies more accountable and reduce our deficit by roughly a trillion dollars. The House passed a similar bill. However, many Republicans now are demanding that we simply ignore the progress we’ve made, the extensive debate and negotiations we’ve held, the amendments we’ve added (including more than 100 from Republicans) and the votes of a supermajority in favor of a bill whose contents the American people unambiguously support.
…
I know that many Republicans have expressed concerns with our use of the existing Senate rules, but their argument is unjustified. There is nothing unusual or extraordinary about the use of reconciliation. As one of the most senior Senators in your caucus, Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, said in explaining the use of this very same option, “Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don’t think so.”
…
As you know, the vast majority of bills developed through reconciliation were passed by Republican Congresses and signed into law by Republican Presidents – including President Bush’s massive, budget-busting tax breaks for multi-millionaires. Given this history, one might conclude that Republicans believe a majority vote is sufficient to increase the deficit and benefit the super-rich, but not to reduce the deficit and benefit the middle class. Alternatively, perhaps Republicans believe a majority vote is appropriate only when Republicans are in the majority. Either way, we disagree.
Keep in mind that reconciliation will not exclude Republicans from the legislative process. You will continue to have an opportunity to offer amendments and change the shape of the legislation. In addition, at the end of the process, the bill can pass only if it wins a democratic, up-or-down majority vote. If Republicans want to vote against a bill that reduces health care costs, fills the prescription drug “donut hole” for seniors and reduces the deficit, you will have every right to do so.
Sincerely,
HARRY REID
United States Senator
P.S. Can you hear them clanging?
Reid is still thinking the American public is stupid. His statement that Americans ‘unambiguously support’ is dead wrong. Right now 53% strongly disapprove the bill. He knows this will be all over the internet and thinks people are stupid enough to fall for it.
Laura,
Your comment leads me to believe that you have bought into the distortion and myths about the healthcare reform bills being promulgated by far-right groups that are afraid of change. The two plans to be reconciled by congress will not result in the kind of change I would like to see – a single payer system like that of France – but the bill will make a step in the right direction. And, a report released by the CBO this week predicts that the reform bill will reduce the deficit, not increase it.
I recommend you take a look at that report and that you read Paul Krugman’s column that debunks the myths you believe in.