It appears that the Republican "threat" to make gigantic public displays of partisan asshattery if Democrats provided cheaper, more accessible health care to Americans has failed. Although victory has not yet been finalized, a tentative budget deal between congressional Democrats and the White House denies Republicans the option to filibuster health care reform:
Democrats in Congress and the White House have struck a tentative budget deal that includes reconciliation instructions that will make it easier to push through healthcare reform this year.
The deal, which still needs approval from the full House and Senate, would allow Democrats to pass healthcare reform with just a simple majority in the Senate, instead of the 60 votes needed to pass most controversial legislation, according to a congressional aide.
The budget agreement does not include reconciliation instructions for climate change legislation, which both Senate Republicans and Democrats have argued against.
The decision to include reconciliation instructions will likely rile Republicans, who portrayed the use of the maneuver as an attack on Senate rules. But top Democrats have said that they'll resort to reconciliation rules if Republicans remain unwilling to cooperate on long-awaited healthcare legislation.
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) stressed that the deal has yet to be finalized. He noted that he and House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.), who held talks on the budget Thursday night, still need to present "options" on the budget resolution to their fellow colleagues.
The lack of reconciliation for climate change is not a surprise, given that the Senate overwhelmingly voted against it a few weeks ago. Also, it is likely that some Senate whipping will need to be done in order to ensure this victory on health care (on at least two occasions, the House has already voted in favor of using reconciliation on increased health care investment). Still, this is very promising for increased health care investment in America. Without the filibuster available to Republicans, it is highly likely that in 2009 Democrats will succeed where they failed in 1994. This might be the biggest legislative victory for progressives in, well, about as long as I can remember.
On a less positive note, Senator Max Baucus has tabled debate on a public option (that is, government funded and operated) in the health care reform package for now. However, it remains on the table, so that fight is not yet lost. After the victory on reconciliation, I am more positive than ever that we will eventually win the public option fight, too.
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